Former Directors of the State Forests Detained
Officers from the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau detained three former directors from the management of the State Forests. The men were detained in the Silesian, Łódź, and West Pomeranian provinces. The investigation is supervised by the National Prosecutor's Office in Warsaw.
On 25 February 2025, officers from the CBA Regional Office in Szczecin, following orders from the National Prosecutor's Office, detained: Józef K., the former General Director of the State Forests, Michał C., the former Director of the State Forests Information Center, and Andrzej Sz., the former Director of the Regional Directorate of State Forests in Szczecin. Digital storage devices, documentation, and cash were seized at their places of residence.
Apparent Employment
The investigation into the abuse of power by public officials in order to gain financial benefits and to extort funds from the State Forests in connection with fictitious employment is supervised by Investigative Team No. 2 of the National Prosecutor’s Office in Warsaw.
The investigation findings indicate that fictitious employment contracts for an indefinite period were concluded with the State Forests Information Centre and the Regional Directorate of State Forests in Szczecin. The work was not supposed to be and was not actually performed in any form. The procedure was only used to obtain an unauthorized financial benefit by the fictitious employed person, which constituted action to the detriment of the public interest.
Charge of exceeding authority
The detainees were brought to the National Prosecutor's Office in Warsaw. The evidence collected, including witness statements, records on electronic data carriers, documents and inspection of items secured during the search, provided grounds for bringing charges of exceeding authority and failing to fulfil obligations against three former directors of the State Forests.
The prosecutor has applied preventive measures against the suspects, including police supervision, ban on contacting specified individuals, ban on leaving the country, and a financial surety of 50,000 PLN. Cash has been secured to cover the potential penalties.
CBA Press Team
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CBA
