Polish gov't regains strategic plot of land following its controversial sale
The Polish state-owned agricultural agency KOWR has repurchased a strategic plot of land for Poland's flagship air-and-rail Central Communication Hub (CPK) following its allegedly irregular sale.
In late October, Wirtualna Polska news portal reported that in the final two weeks of its term in 2023, the agriculture ministry in the Law and Justice (PiS) government, allegedly approved the sale of 160 hectares of land, through which a high-speed rail line from Warsaw to the CPK was supposed to run, to Piotr Wielgomas, vice president of fruit and vegetable processing company Dawtona.
The news sparked political outrage due to concerns of suspected corruption. The plot, sold for nearly PLN 22.8 million (EUR 5.38 million), could now be worth as much as PLN 400 million (EUR 94.4 million), Wirtualna Polska wrote.
"Today, the plot was recovered for its purchase price, i.e., PLN 22,760,000.00," KOWR announced on Friday. "The signing of the notarial deed completes the property repurchase process and allows for its reincorporation into the State Treasury's Agricultural Property Resources – without subsidies, exchanges, or any other obligations."
Wielgomas said that under the agreement signed on November 5, he waived all claims related to the expenses incurred on this plot. He also claimed that he had not received any offers to purchase other land in exchange.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk welcomed the news, concluding that "the case of the famous plot of land symbolically came to an end." He praised government officials "who insisted on recovering this plot so that the state would not have to pay for it."
However, Minister of Agriculture Stefan Krajewski criticised the current KOWR leadership for their slow response in recovering the land.
The suspected irregularities in the sale had been reported to the prosecutor's office, which is investigating the matter. (PAP)
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