Invoking Influence
Officers of the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau have detained a former Undersecretary of State at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister in connection with an investigation into irregularities within the Governmental Agency for Strategic Reserves (RARS). The investigation is supervised by the Silesian Branch of the Department for Organized Crime and Corruption of the National Prosecutor’s Office in Katowice.
On October 23, 2025, CBA officers detained Paweł M., who had previously held public positions, including Secretary of State at the Ministry of Interior and Administration, Undersecretary of State at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, and at the Ministry of Digital Affairs. The prosecutor charged him with invoking influence in the Chancellery of the Prime Minister and in national organizational units managing public funds, as well as mediating in the arrangement of public contracts for a designated entrepreneur.
Investigation into irregularities at the RARS
The multi-threaded investigation, conducted by the Regional Office of the CBA in Rzeszów, under the supervision of the Silesian Branch of the Department for Organized Crime and Corruption of the National Prosecutor's Office in Katowice, concerns, among other things, abuse of authority and neglect of duties by representatives of the Government Agency for Strategic Reserves. The investigation involves irregularities resulting from, among other things, the abuse of provisions of the Act on Strategic Reserves, preferential treatment of selected businesses, and the acceptance of inflated prices for goods.
Financial gain for procurement contracts
The evidence collected in this case indicates that Paweł M. invoked his influence in the Chancellery of the Prime Minister and in State Treasury companies and acted as an intermediary in securing procurement contracts for an established entrepreneur, who is also a suspect in this case. In exchange for securing the contracts, the suspect allegedly demanded that the entrepreneur employ his wife and then accepted free use of a premium passenger car, the leasing and operating costs of which were covered by the person securing the contracts. Ultimately, the suspect allegedly obtained a financial gain of no less than PLN 60,000.
Charges and Preventive Measures
The detainee was brought to the Silesian Branch of the Department for Organized Crime and Corruption of the National Prosecutor's Office in Katowice, where he was charged with paying influence (Article 230 § 1 of the Penal Code) and accepting financial and personal benefits (Article 228 § 1 of the Penal Code).
Preventive measures imposed on the suspect included a PLN 100,000 bail, police supervision, a ban on leaving the country combined with the confiscation of his passport, and a ban on contacting specific individuals.
Ongoing proceedings
The actions are being carried out as part of a multi-threaded investigation initiated on the basis of a report filed by the Head of the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau. The investigation also covers other aspects related to criminal activity detrimental to the public interest.
To date, prosecutors have brought 36 charges against 16 individuals, including former RARS President Michał K. and three other agency officials.
CBA Press Team
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CBA
