Poland accuses ex-Members of European Parliament of alleged corruption
The Polish prosecutor's office is looking into ex-MEP Ryszard Czarnecki, a notable figure from the lasting ruling party PiS, and his spouse, over potential fraud charges. They're being scrutinized for suspected involvement in paid protection, corruption, and money laundering, confirmed a spokesperson from the Katowice office.
Czarnecki and his wife were taken into custody on a Wednesday but were later granted bail. The focus of the probe revolves around irregularities pertaining to the private university Collegium Humanum, which stands accused of peddling diplomas.
As per Polish news sources, PiS politicians have been granted their Master of Business Administration degrees through this university's speedy track process. The rector and several others are currently under probe.
As per the prosecutor's statement, Czarnecki offered to employ his clout in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spanning April 2019 to October 2023, aiding the university to establish a branch in Uzbekistan. In exchange, he's alleged to have received approximately 21,000 euros from the university administration. To disguise the payment, his wife was reportedly given a fake job there. Czarnecki and his spouse refute the claims. Should they be convicted, they could be imprisoned for up to ten years.
In 2020, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) had previously probed Czarnecki for another case. From 2009 to 2013, he submitted claims for a total of 203,167 euros as an EU Parliament member under the travel expenses category. He was later forced to pay back 104,000 euros to the parliament. This matter is still under review in Poland. Czarnecki continues to deny these allegations.
Despite the ongoing investigation, Czarnecki and his wife remain active in Polish politics, often attending events and meetings within the PiS party.
Efforts to extradite Czarnecki to the Netherlands, where he could face charges related to a separate case, have been unsuccessful due to Polish law.
