Cezary J., a former member of the foundation’s management board, was released after questioning on Tuesday evening, Regional Prosecutor Jaromir Rybczak said in the southeastern city of Rzeszów.
Prosecutors barred him from leaving Poland and retained his passport. They have not disclosed the charges or their legal classification.
"The decision to keep the details confidential is motivated by the interests of the ongoing investigation," Rybczak said.
Maciej Świrski, another former member of the foundation’s board, remained in custody and was still being questioned on Tuesday evening. Prosecutors had 48 hours to complete the necessary procedures following his detention. Lawyers for both men attended the questioning, Rybczak said.
Officers from the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA) detained the two former executives on Tuesday on the orders of the District Prosecutor’s Office in Rzeszów. The investigation concerns money allocated by the Polish National Foundation (PFN) to the 2017 "Fair Courts" campaign.
The campaign promoted judicial changes introduced by the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) government, which was in power at the time. It included billboards displayed across Poland and websites presenting the government’s arguments for overhauling the justice system.
Some billboards attacked judges and described them as an "extraordinary caste," a phrase used by government supporters to suggest that judges regarded themselves as a privileged group.
The campaign prompted protests from the opposition, which accused the foundation of using money supplied by state-controlled companies to finance party propaganda.
Investigators are examining whether members of the foundation’s former management abused their authority or failed to perform their duties when financing the campaign.
Prosecutors have estimated the resulting financial loss to the foundation at no less than PLN 8.43 million (about EUR 2 million).
The investigation was opened by the District Prosecutor’s Office in Warsaw in June 2024 and later transferred to Rzeszów.
Prosecutors in Rzeszów are also examining other aspects of the foundation’s operations, including the purchase and subsequent sale of the I Love Poland yacht for EUR 900,000 in 2018.
CBA officers also searched the homes of Anna Plakwicz and Piotr Matczuk, former associates of PiS Prime Minister Beata Szydło who worked on the party’s public image. No charges against them were announced on Tuesday.
The Polish National Foundation was established in 2016 under Szydło’s government. Its stated purposes included promoting Poland abroad, protecting the country’s reputation and supporting the Polish economy.
It was founded and financed by 17 state-controlled companies, including energy groups Orlen, PGE and Tauron, insurer PZU, Bank PKO BP and copper producer KGHM.
The foundation’s spending had previously drawn criticism from the Supreme Audit Office (NIK), Poland’s auditing authority. Auditors repeatedly criticized the founding companies for failing to supervise how the foundation spent their money.
The foundation refused to submit to an NIK audit, arguing that it did not manage public funds. The Supreme Audit Office later notified prosecutors of suspected obstruction of a state audit.
(rt)
Source: PAP