Multi-threaded investigation into RARS
Officers of the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau have detained another person from the Governmental Strategic Reserves Agency (RARS). The case concerns the purchase of power generators. The multi-threaded investigation is supervised by the Silesian Branch of the Department of Organized Crime and Corruption of the National Prosecutor’s Office in Katowice.
On 22. July 2024, officers of the Regional Office of the CBA in Rzeszów detained a woman in Warsaw who held a managerial position in the Procurement Office of the Governmental Strategic Reserves Agency (RARS). According to the findings of the investigation, the detainee, acting in cooperation and in agreement with the director of the Procurement Office and other employees of RARS, in order to gain a financial benefit, selected an offer submitted by a limited joint-stock partnership owned by the creator of a clothing brand. This company lacked the experience and technical and human resources potential to duly carry out the delivery of the ordered equipment, and the financial condition of the company did not guarantee delivery. The bidder was selected despite the negative recommendation of the CBA.
On 4 July 2024, the director of the RARS Procurement Office was also detained. The court applied a temporary arrest for a period of 2 months against the suspect.
The Prosecutor charged the detainees with exceeding their powers and failing to fulfil their duties, i.e. with acts under Article 231 §2 of the Penal Code in conjunction with Article 12 §1 of the Penal Code.
Prosecution Charges
Among other things, the investigation included searches at the headquarters of the Governmental Strategic Reserves Agency and searches of residences and businesses belonging to persons appearing in the case. Approximately 30 witnesses were interrogated, including employees of the Procurement Office and the RARS Public Procurement Office, as well as businessmen submitting bids for the supply of the generators.
Ongoing Case
Information about irregularities at RARS was provided by the General Inspector of Financial Information in the form of a notice of the possibility of committing a crime and by the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau.
This is the second procedural implementation in the ongoing pre-trial investigation by officers of the Regional Office of the CBA in Rzeszów. The investigation remains ongoing and further implementations are planned.
CBA Press Team
