The new charge concerns alleged financial misconduct while Piesiewicz was acting president of the Polish Basketball League S.A. Prosecutors suspect he abused his authority and failed to properly supervise the company's finances, acting jointly with other people and seeking financial gain.
According to prosecutor Anna Adamiak, the alleged scheme involved instructing employees to pay invoices issued to the league by service providers. The payments covered hotel and catering services in Poland and abroad, as well as international flights. Prosecutors said the expenses covered private stays and events that were made to appear connected to the company's business activities.
Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek announced the charge on X, saying the National Prosecutor's Office had brought a new allegation against Piesiewicz.
“The money in Polish sport is not a private holiday fund for presidents,” Żurek wrote.
He also said material separated from the Zondacrypto case had been joined with investigations into alleged irregularities at the Polish Olympic Committee and Bank Pekao.
Piesiewicz had previously been charged in a case concerning the Zondacrypto cryptocurrency exchange and the disappearance of its founder, Sylwester Suszek. The separate proceedings concerning him include allegations of influence peddling and favouring creditors.
These concern allegations that, in 2025, Piesiewicz invoked influence at the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK), said to stem from his acquaintance with a former prime minister. In exchange for accepting a watch worth nearly PLN 170,000 (EUR 38,700), he allegedly undertook to intervene in proceedings involving Zondacrypto and its operator, BB Trade Estonia.
The allegations also include persuading a member of BB Trade Estonia's board in April 2026 to pay out funds from the exchange when the company was facing possible insolvency or bankruptcy. The payments amounted to nearly EUR 195,000 and EUR 100,000 and were allegedly made to the detriment of the exchange's other creditors.
Adamiak said the separation of the material was intended to ensure the efficiency of the proceedings while allowing the circumstances to be examined fully.
She added that further investigation was needed into Piesiewicz's activities within the Polish Olympic Committee and other organisations in Polish sport.
(sp)
Source: PAP