The complaint alleges defamation, and concerns Kaczyński’s 2024 remark before a parliamentary commission probing the use of the infamous Pegasus spyware that Brejza had committed “repugnant crimes.”
The next hearing is set for December 9.
The session took place at the District Court for Warsaw-Śródmieście, chaired by Judge Tomasz Trębicki, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
The court did not allow media audio or video recording.
In March, Poland’s lower house, the Sejm, lifted Kaczyński’s parliamentary immunity in connection with the case.
Brejza’s counsel, his wife Dorota Brejza, argued that calling someone a criminal requires a court judgment and said there is no basis for such a claim.
The Regional Prosecutor’s Office reviewing the matter pointed to irregularities by investigators and said Pegasus had been used unlawfully against Brejza.
Pegasus is Israeli-made spyware capable of extracting data from smartphones. An inquiry into use of Pegasus by PiS politicians is ongoing. The parliamentary commission on Pegasus is examining reported domestic use of the spyware.
Kaczyński told the court he had provided the commission with all information he had and maintained his position about Brejza.
After the hearing he posted on X criticizing the presiding judge, and said he was unlikely to attend the December session.
(rt/gs)
Sources: IAR, PAP