Trade in diplomas by a private university

Officers of the Regional Office of the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau in Rzeszów are conducting a multi-threaded investigation into the activities of an organized criminal group which, in exchange for accepting material and personal benefits, issued documents related to the completion of studies and MBA diplomas entitling to sit on supervisory boards of companies with State Treasury participation. The investigation is supervised by the Silesian Branch of the Department of Organized Crime and Corruption of the National Prosecutor's Office in Katowice.

Paid protection and personal benefits
 

On March 13, 2024, officers of the Regional Office of the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau in Rzeszów detained in Warsaw two people – a man and a woman.

Among detainees is a person performing public functions in the Polish Accreditation Committee, who, taking advantage of his position and relying on influence, demanded and then accepted a financial benefit in the total amount of PLN 450,000.00. In exchange for positive decisions for the university, Collegium Hummanum accepted a personal benefit in the form of employing close relatives.

Another detained person is an employee of a private university who, acting jointly and in concert, received a financial benefit in the total amount of over PLN 275,000.00 and a personal benefit in the form of employment at the university.

In the course of the searches, officers of the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau secured documentation and data carriers that could constitute evidence in the preparatory proceedings.

The detainees were taken to the Silesian Branch of the Department of Organized Crime and Corruption of the National Prosecutor's Office in Katowice, where they were charged under Art. 228 of the Penal Code and 230 of the Penal Code.

Preventive measures applied

Due to the need to secure the proper course of proceedings against the suspected man, the Prosecutor submitted a request for a preventive measure in the form of temporary arrest. The court agreed with the Prosecutor's argument and imposed pre-trial detention for a period of 3 months. The prosecutor applied non-custodial preventive measures to the detained woman in the form of bail in the amount of i 150 000, 00 PLN, police supervision and suspension from official duties.

A renewed appeal to people involved in the illegal trade in diplomas

In order to take advantage of the immunity clause resulting from Art. 229 § 6 of the Penal Code, persons participating in the criminal practice of illegal trade in diplomas should immediately report to the Silesian Branch of the Department for Organized Crime and Corruption of the National Prosecutor's Office in Katowice or the Delegation of the Central Anticorruption Bureau in Rzeszów.