Ex-Polish Deputy Justice Minister Arrested Over Fund Misuse Allegations

Former Polish deputy justice minister Marcin Romanowski has been detained by the Internal Security Agency over allegations of fund misuse. He faces 11 charges, including misuse of the Justice Fund. The case is part of a broader investigation into the activities of the arch-conservative Sovereign Poland party.

Former Polish deputy justice minister Marcin Romanowski was detained by the Internal Security Agency on Monday, according to his lawyer, following the loss of his parliamentary immunity amid a probe into the misuse of public money for political campaigns. Prosecutors assert that members of the arch-conservative Sovereign Poland party, part of the outgoing nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) government, misused the Justice Fund, intended for victims of crime.

Prosecutors maintain they have evidence that Romanowski committed 11 crimes, including abusing his powers and causing financial losses to the state treasury. Romanowski denies the allegations, claiming the arrest is politically motivated.

His lawyer, Bartosz Lewandowski, announced the arrest on social media platform X. Reports suggest fund money was used to gain favor with rural voters by purchasing items like fire engines and equipment for country housewives' associations. Additionally, 25 million zlotys from the fund reportedly bought Pegasus phone-hacking software, allegedly for crime-fighting purposes, according to Sovereign Poland lawmaker Michal Wos, who also faces similar accusations and denies wrongdoing.

The new pro-European government under Donald Tusk is enabling the investigation of past administration misconduct, which reportedly would have been suppressed earlier. Justice Minister Adam Bodnar indicated the possibility of further charges against previous government affiliates.

($1 = 3.8981 zlotys)

(With inputs from agencies.)