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Polish PM Tusk addresses Orlen's billion-złoty loss, alleged Hezbollah connection

29.04.2024 14:15
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has announced official discussions concerning the billion-złoty loss incurred by the state-owned oil company Orlen and potential ties between its former head and the Hezbollah-linked individual.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka

On Monday, Onet reported that Orlen's internal security services had warned Daniel Obajtek, the company's former CEO, against collaborating with Samer A., a Lebanese national suspected of connections to Hezbollah and illegal oil trading from Iran.

"Obajtek ignored these warnings and appointed Samer A. as head of Orlen Trader Switzerland (OTS), a Swiss subsidiary of Orlen," Onet reported, adding that this led to a PLN 1.6 billion loss for the company. This loss only came to light after the Law and Justice (PiS) government lost power and Obajtek was dismissed.

Tusk responded to the report, stating, "I asked the Prosecutor General and the security coordinator to visit today regarding a matter crucial for the nation's security: the billion-złoty loss and possible connections to Hezbollah involving the former head of Orlen. Poles must know the truth. There's no time to wait."

In a statement to Onet, Obajtek expressed confidence in his colleagues, stating that he "had and continues to have trust" in them.

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Source: PAP, Onet