One million zlotys of financial benefits
Officers of the Central Anticorruption Bureau have detained 5 people, including an official of the Municipal Roads Authority in Poznań. The case involves a corruption scheme linked to representatives of the real estate development sector. The investigation is supervised by the Masovian Branch of the Department for Organized Crime and Corruption of the National Prosecutor's Office in Warsaw.
On July 2 this year, officers of the Regional Office of the CBA in Warsaw detained 5 people in the Wielkopolska Province. Among those detained were an official and managers of 3 entities from the development industry. CBA officers searched a total of over 20 locations, including the headquarters of the Poznań City Hall and the Municipal Roads Authority in Poznań. The activities were carried out with the support of officers of the Regional Offices of the CBA in Poznań, Łódź, Gdańsk, Białystok, Wrocław and Szczecin.
Detention in the act
One of the detained people is an official serving as the Head of the Municipal Roads Authority in Poznań. The man was detained immediately after accepting a financial benefit of PLN 150,000 from an intermediary. During a search of his place of residence, cash in the amount of over PLN 700,000, luxury watches and jewellery were seized.
Corruption mechanism revealed
During the course of the conducted operational and investigative activities, the functioning of a corruption arrangement was confirmed, in which financial benefits exceeding a total of PLN 1 million were demanded from representatives of the broadly understood development industry. In exchange for financial benefits, the entrepreneurs expected positive decisions in administrative proceedings related to construction investments in the city of Poznań.
The transfer of money was supposed to take place after previously drawing up fictitious contracts and issuing invoices that did not reflect actual economic events.
Preventive measures applied
The detainees were brought to the Mazovian Branch of the Department for Organized Crime and Corruption of the National Prosecutor's Office in Warsaw. The prosecutor presented the official with charges of accepting financial benefits in connection with the function performed, or the promise thereof, as well as charges related to invoking influence in a company in which the city of Poznań holds shares.
The remaining suspects were presented with charges of giving financial benefits or the promise thereof. At the request of the prosecutor, the Court imposed temporary arrest for a period of 3 months against one of the perpetrators. Non-custodial measures in the form of a financial guarantee in the amount of PLN 200,000 and police supervision were applied against the remaining detainees.
The case is developing in nature, further arrests are planned.
CBA appeals
The CBA reminds that under Article 229 § 6 of the Penal Code, a person who offers a financial or personal benefit or promises to do so, and the benefit or promise is accepted, shall not be punished if they report the offense to law enforcement and disclose all relevant circumstances before the authorities become aware of the crime.
The investigation is ongoing and any information is valuable. People who have information about corruption incidents involving the functioning of the Poznań City Hall and ZDM in Poznań can report to the CBA. Reports should be sent to the Regional Office of the CBA in Warsaw, ul. Poleczki 3.
CBA Press Team
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CBA
