CENTRAL ANTI-CORRUPTION BUREAU Charges in connection with coal purchases for RARS - News

On 28 April 2026, officers of the Regional Office of the CBA in Rzeszów detained three men in the Mazowieckie Voivodeship — a former associate of RARS and two representatives of a company operating in the coal sector. The case concerns abuse of granted powers for the purpose of obtaining financial gain. During the operation, officers secured documentation and data storage devices.

Purchases inconsistent with decisions

Findings of the investigation indicate that in 2022–2023, one of the detainees, acting under authorization from the Agency’s President, influenced procurement procedures in order to secure a contract for coal supplies for a selected company. The Warsaw-based company lacked the necessary experience, technical capacity, and personnel to perform the contracts. National Economy Bank (BGK) refused to grant the company a letter of credit, and the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau issued a negative recommendation.

During contract performance, the company’s president and its proxy obtained more favorable terms through successive contract amendments. As a result, they secured preferential payment conditions, including advance payments, altered transport conditions compared to the original arrangements, and avoided contractual penalties, deriving additional benefits from coal storage.

Large-scale financial damage

Officers of the Regional Office of the CBA in Rzeszów are conducting an investigation into abuse of powers and failure to fulfil duties by RARS employees in the signing and execution of coal purchase contracts. The investigation has established that individuals responsible for implementing coal deliveries for strategic reserves led to the purchase of coal whose quality parameters did not meet those specified in procurement decisions. The investigation is also examining circumstances related to deliveries of coal originating from the Russian Federation. These actions resulted in damage to the public interest and to the Government Agency for Strategic Reserves on a large scale, estimated at no less than PLN 530 million.

Charges and preventive measures

The detainees were brought before the Silesian Branch of the Department for Organized Crime of the National Public Prosecutor’s Office in Katowice. They were charged, among others, with participation in an organized criminal group, abuse of powers, and acting to the detriment of the public interest. The prosecutor applied non-custodial preventive measures, including police supervision, a ban on leaving the country, and a prohibition on contacting specified individuals. Additionally, a financial surety of PLN 300,000 was imposed on the former RARS associate, and the travel ban was combined with the seizure of his passport.

The investigation is ongoing

This is the first procedural action in the investigation concerning irregularities in coal purchases by the Government Agency for Strategic Reserves in 2022–2023 as part of building strategic reserves. The investigation is ongoing, and further arrests are possible.

CBA Press Team