The Prosecutor’s Office in Lublin has opened an investigation into, among other issues, the alleged influence peddling in the Poland’s Internal Security Agency (ABW) and the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA) during proceedings led by the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in Katowice. The case concerns a businessman who was detained by the CBA in 2017 after, as he claims, refusing to pay a bribe.
Agnieszka Kępka, spokesperson for the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Lublin, confirmed on Tuesday that the case involves allegations of abuse of power, coercion of testimony, and actions detrimental to the public interest – understood as compromising the proper functioning of the justice system – as well as violations of private individuals’ rights.
The prosecutors are examining whether, between 2017 and 2018, officials may have fabricated evidence, employed deceptive tactics, and used unlawful threats in order to obtain specific statements from individuals, with the aim of initiating criminal proceedings against a designated person. These actions were allegedly carried out to secure personal or financial gain.
Financial gain and influence peddling?
Prosecutors in Lublin are also scrutinising allegations of influence peddling – in particular, two separate instances in Warsaw where individuals are said to have offered to “solve the problems” of a company and a person of interest to the security services. These offers reportedly came in exchange for financial benefits and with the claim of having influence within the ABW and CBA.
According to the spokesperson, the investigation was formally opened on 17 March following an offence notification submitted by an authorised representative of the Open Dialogue Foundation. The Foundation’s representative pointed to the possibility that ‘a series of crimes against the administration of justice and the private interests of several individuals’ may have been committed. Kępka confirmed that the reporting party had already been interviewed and that the investigation is proceeding as planned.
According to Onet’s findings, the investigation concerns the alleged abuse of power by officials from the CBA and the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in Katowice in the case of businessman Przemysław Krych, who was detained by the CBA in 2017 and held in custody for six months. Krych maintains that the detention followed his refusal to pay a EUR 1.5 million bribe.
Under Polish law, offering or promising a public official a material benefit of significant value in connection with their official duties carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison.
Source: tvn24.pl
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