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Poland’s former justice minister accused of leading crime group that embezzled millions

28.10.2025 12:45
Poland’s former justice minister, Zbigniew Ziobro, has been charged with founding and leading an organized criminal group that embezzled millions in public funds for personal and political gain, a spokeswoman for prosecutors said on Tuesday.
Zbigniew Ziobro
Zbigniew ZiobroPAP/Art Service

Anna Adamiak, spokeswoman for the Prosecutor General’s Office, told a news conference that Ziobro is accused of a total of 26 offenses, including founding and directing a criminal organization that misused PLN 150 million (EUR 35.4 million, USD 41.2 million) in government money.

Prosecutors believe the group included former justice ministry officials and individuals linked to organizations that received grants from the Justice Fund, a financing mechanism overseen by the ministry.

“These people committed crimes against property and documents, causing financial damage,” Adamiak said.

She told reporters that Poland's current Justice Minister and Prosecutor General Waldemar Żurek has asked parliament to lift Ziobro’s immunity as a lawmaker and to authorize his detention and arrest.

Prosecutors said evidence in the case includes witness statements, suspect testimonies, grant documentation, materials from the Supreme Audit Office (NIK) and electronic data.

Adamiak said the charges, which also include falsifying official documents, were directly tied to Ziobro’s role as justice minister, which gave him authority over the allocation of Justice Fund money.

Ziobro served as justice minister and prosecutor general in the previous right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) government from 2015 to 2023.

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Source: TVP Info, IAR, PAP