Investigation into Fake Diplomas
The Vice-Rector of a private university in Łódź was detained at Warsaw Chopin Airport (Okęcie). She is the latest individual linked to a criminal group involved in issuing fraudulent academic documents. The operation was carried out at the request of the National Prosecutor's Office.
On June 13, officers from the Regional Office of the CBA in Rzeszów, together with Border Guard officers at Warsaw Chopin Airport, detained Iryna K., Vice-Rector of a private university in Łódź. The activities are related to a multi-threaded CBA investigation into acting to the detriment of the public interest and operating in an organised criminal group whose activity consisted in issuing false documents related to studies, including MBA diplomas, which qualify individuals to serve on supervisory boards of companies with State Treasury involvement.
Fake Documents for Thousands of Students
According to the investigation, the detainee provided a financial benefit of no less than 200,000 PLN to members of the Polish Accreditation Committee in exchange for favorable decisions regarding the development and functioning of the Łódź-based university. Additionally, she repeatedly accepted financial benefits totaling over 3 million PLN from more than 2,000 students in return for issuing false academic documents.
Involvement in an Organized Criminal Group
The investigation revealed that the Vice-Rector was part of an organized criminal group operating in Poland and Ukraine, engaged in the issuance of fraudulent academic documents. These included transcripts, bachelor's, master's, and second-cycle diplomas, as well as postgraduate certificates issued by Collegium Humanum.
Preventive Measures
At the request of the Prosecutor's Office, the court imposed a preventive measure in the form of temporary detention for a period of three months. However, the suspect will be able to leave custody after paying PLN 200,000, on the date set by the Court.
Multi-threaded Investigation
The actions are part of a multi-threaded investigation initiated following a report by the Head of the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau. As part of the investigation, other threads related to criminal activity to the detriment of the public interest are also being investigated. So far, 70 individuals have been charged with a total of 372 counts. Further arrests and charges are planned.
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