CENTRAL ANTI-CORRUPTION BUREAU always in the interest of Poland Expensive billboards of the State Forests - News

Findings

The case is related to the implementation by the State Forests National Forest Holding (Lasy Państwowe) of a nationwide programme promoting sustainable forest management, nature conservation and cultural heritage through the making and installation of promotional billboards throughout the country. The officers’ findings indicate that during the implementation of the programme, the provisions of the Public Procurement Act were violated.  

For the purpose of implementing this programme, the Forest Culture Centre in Gołuchów concluded a contract with a selected entrepreneur for the supply and installation of 2,000 promotional billboards. The total value of the contract is over PLN 35 million.

Searches in over a dozen locations

On 23 October 2024, nearly 50 CBA officers from the Bureau’s regional offices in Poznań, Katowice, Kraków, Białystok, Rzeszów, Bydgoszcz, Łódź and Wrocław and Warsaw conducted, at the same time, procedural activities in the Mazowieckie, Wielkopolskie, Śląskie, Małopolskie, Podkarpackie and Podlaskie voivodeships. The agents secured evidence documentation concerning the nationwide project, among others at the headquarters of the General Directorate of the State Forests and the State Forests Information Centre in Warsaw, the Forestry Culture Centre in Gołuchów, the Forestry Technology Centre in Jarocin, as well as at the headquarters of 8 economic entities which undertook activities in the implementation of the aforementioned project.

Ongoing Case

The secured evidence will be subjected to further legal evaluation. Preliminary findings indicate that the losses to the State Treasury are estimated at almost PLN 23 million.

CBA Press Team