Former PM linked to potential cases of fraud in PPE procurement
Mateusz Morawiecki, the former Polish prime minister, could be drawn into an investigation into alleged fraud linked to the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Janusz Pawelczyk, the head of the Supreme Audit Office (NIK) in the north-eastern city of Bialystok, said that his agency was preparing to notify the Prosecutor's Office about possible fraud cases.
On Thursday, he presented the results of an audit which claim that the Prime Minister's Office improperly spent nearly PLN 200 million (EUR 46.45 mln) on personal protective equipment during the pandemic in 2020–2021.
Pawelczyk said that the NIK would send notifications to the Prosecutor's Office regarding persons "whose signatures appear on the documents and who directly participated in the entire (procurement - PAP) process."
"This includes, of course, Mateusz Morawiecki, and (former assets minister – PAP) Jacek Sasin, as well as representatives of companies who acted to the detriment of shareholders," he said.
He added that, in the opinion of NIK, evidence collected during the audit proceedings clearly indicated the existence of mechanisms of corruption as defined by Article 231 of the Penal Code, as well as other articles.
If found guilty under Art. 231, public officials who, by exceeding their powers or by failing to complete their obligations, act to the detriment of public or private interests shall be liable to imprisonment for a period of up to three years. (PAP)
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