Singer Detained for Hours in Budapest After Using Counterfeit Bill

Israeli singer and cantor Elhanan Mimran's journey from Budapest was marred by a significant incident at the airport, where he and his two children were detained for several hours by Hungarian police. The ordeal began when Mimran attempted to purchase a bottle of water at a duty-free shop using a $100 bill he had received as payment for a performance. Unbeknownst to him, the bill was counterfeit.

Upon realizing the bill was fake, the shop employee alerted the police, and Mimran found himself surrounded by approximately 30 officers. He was taken to an interrogation room with his children, where they underwent extensive searches and questioning that lasted for five to six hours. Mimran described the search as thorough, involving checks of his clothing, socks, and shoes, with officers meticulously examining each bill he possessed. Communication with the investigators was challenging due to language barriers, relying on mobile phone translation.

In addition to the interrogation, fingerprinting and other identification tests were conducted. This detention was part of a series of travel disruptions Mimran experienced. His flight was initially delayed by several hours, and after boarding, passengers were asked to deplane due to a communication system malfunction. The entire journey extended to about 40 hours, and upon arrival at their destination, all three of the family's suitcases were reported missing.

Mimran was eventually released unharmed and returned to Israel with his family after authorities were convinced he had acted in good faith and was unaware the bill was counterfeit. He recounted the experience in an interview with broadcaster Ami Maimon, detailing the anxiety and difficulties he faced.