CENTRAL ANTI-CORRUPTION BUREAU always in the interest of Poland Detentions in a Case Involving Financial Benefits in the Healthcare Sector - News

On October 28, 2019, officers from the Regional Office of the CBA in Warsaw detained an entrepreneur, a former public procurement employee at a healthcare facility, and a manager at a specialized medical institute in Warsaw. The detentions are related to a CBA investigation into the acceptance of financial benefits by public officials. During the investigation, officers secured documentation and data carriers that could constitute evidence in the case.

Favorable Procurement Decisions

According to the findings of the Regional Office of the CBA in Warsaw, between 2020 and 2022, certain individuals performing public functions accepted financial benefits in the form of cash and the use of vehicles, amounting in total to approximately PLN 110,000. These actions were intended to result in favorable decisions concerning the purchase of equipment, decontamination products, and services for specific healthcare facilities.

Evidence indicates that the detained businessman provided financial benefits in exchange for influencing decisions on the awarding of public contracts to a medical institute. He is also suspected of inducing others to issue fraudulent VAT invoices totaling approximately PLN 100,000 in favor of the company he represented. The remaining detainees allegedly accepted financial benefits in cash as well as benefits equivalent to the value of leasing fees, rental costs, and insurance for vehicles made available to them for use.

Preventive Measures

The detainees were brought to the District Prosecutor’s Office in Sieradz, where they were charged with, among other things, tax fraud, the use of false documents, official corruption, and bribery.

By decision of the prosecutor, non-custodial preventive measures were applied to the suspects, including police supervision, a ban on contacting specified individuals, and a prohibition on leaving the country. In addition, all were subjected to financial sureties. Moreover, the person holding a managerial position at the medical institute was suspended from performing official duties.

The Investigation is Ongoing

The proceedings are multi-faceted, and further procedural actions are planned following an analysis of the evidence collected.

CBA Appeal

The CBA reminds that pursuant to Article 229 § 6 of the Penal Code and Article 230a § 3 of the Penal Code, a person who provided a financial or personal benefit or a promise to provide it and the benefit or the promise to provide it was accepted, is not subject to punishment, provided that the perpetrator notified the law enforcement authority of this fact and disclosed all relevant circumstances of the crime before that authority learned of it.

Anyone with information about criminal activity may contact the Regional Office of the CBA in Warsaw, ul. Poleczki 3, 02-822 Warsaw.

CBA Press Team