Polish Justice Minister and Prosecutor-General Waldemar Żurek said he sent two letters to Hungarian authorities on Tuesday in connection with a National Public Prosecutor’s Office investigation into alleged irregularities in the Justice Fund.
One letter, sent to Hungary’s justice minister, asked whether a European Arrest Warrant issued by a Warsaw court for Romanowski has been put into effect and, if so, what stage the proceedings have reached.
A second letter, addressed to Hungary’s interior minister, asked for confirmation of whether Ziobro and Romanowski were granted refugee or asylum status, and on what dates.
Polish prosecutors say both men, who served in the justice ministry under the previous Law and Justice (PiS), government, are suspects in a case involving the Justice Fund, a state fund intended to support crime victims and post-prison assistance.
According to prosecutors, Ziobro faces 26 charges and Romanowski 19, including alleged large-scale misappropriation, and attempted misappropriation of public money.
The ministry said Żurek also asked Hungary to take steps to revoke any asylum decisions if they are confirmed.
It argued that such protection could breach European Union law and weaken the mutual trust between member states that underpins the European Arrest Warrant system.
Speaking to broadcaster Polsat News on Tuesday evening, Żurek said Poland still did not have reliable public confirmation that either man had been granted political asylum in Hungary.
He said that was the point he wanted clarified by Budapest.
Referring to a brief earlier reply from the Hungarian justice ministry, he added: “Hungary abides by the law.”
Romanowski’s lawyer, Bartosz Lewandowski, challenged the ministry’s position, saying that a decision granting his client international protection, together with a certified translation, had been in the case file at the Warsaw Regional Court since around November.
Romanowski echoed that claim, saying he had personally submitted the document during court proceedings linked to the arrest warrant.
The move comes days after Hungary’s parliamentary election, in which the Tisza party led by Péter Magyar defeated Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz.
Magyar said in Budapest on Monday that Ziobro and Romanowski would not remain in Hungary for long and that the country would not host “internationally wanted criminals.”
Romanowski is currently subject to a new European Arrest Warrant issued in February after an earlier one was lifted late last year.
In Ziobro’s case, prosecutors have already requested a European Arrest Warrant, but the court has not yet ruled on it.
(rt/gs)
Sources: IAR, PAP