CENTRAL ANTI-CORRUPTION BUREAU Flood Compensation Payments Under Investigation by the CBA and EPPO - News

On 26 August this year, officers of the Regional Office of the CBA in Wrocław detained six people in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, including representatives of companies covered by the investigation and a former senior official of the Karkonosze Regional Development Agency S.A.

The officers conducted searches at eight locations, including the detainees’ places of residence. A search was also carried out at the residence of an expert who had assessed the alleged losses suffered by the businesses. Documents and data storage devices were secured. Border Guard officers also participated in the operations.

The procedural activities are the result of a CBA inspection launched on 29 April 2026. Following the inspection, the CBA submitted a notification to EPPO concerning a justified suspicion of a criminal offence. The European Delegated Prosecutor entrusted the CBA with conducting the investigation.

Fictitious documents and fraud involving at least EUR 900,000

The findings indicate that between December 2024 and November 2025, representatives of three companies submitted applications for compensation for losses allegedly incurred during the floods that hit south-western Poland in September 2024. The documentation submitted by the businesses contained fictitious information, as the floodwaters never reached the registered offices of these companies. The Karkonosze Regional Development Agency S.A. (KARR) paid the applicants at least EUR 900,000 in the form of loans, including funds from national and EU sources.

11,000 CBA inspection records

On 29 April 2026, CBA officers launched an inspection of the procedures for granting and settling financial support for businesses affected by the 2024 floods. As part of the inspection, CBA officers analysed 900 applications. More than 50 applications, involving a total amount of funding of nearly PLN 50 million, were subjected to an in-depth verification. The inspection documentation collected comprises more than 11,000 pages. As part of the inspection, officers analysed flood extent maps and requested additional information from more than a dozen institutions, including the Regional Water Management Authority in Wrocław, the Ministry of Development and Technology, and National Economy Bank.

CBA submits notification to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office

On 13 August this year, the Central Anticorruption Bureau submitted a notification to EPPO concerning a justified suspicion of a criminal offence. The notification was based on findings made during the CBA inspection. The collected materials indicate numerous irregularities in the provision of repayable financial support to affected businesses. EPPO opened an investigation and entrusted its conduct to the Regional Office of the CBA in Wrocław.

As part of the investigation, on 19 August 2026, CBA officers secured extensive documentation related to the losses allegedly suffered by businesses in 2024. The activities were carried out at the Jelenia Góra City Hall and the Jeżów Sudecki Municipal Office.

Charges and preventive measures

The detainees were brought before the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, where they were charged with fraud involving subsidies and the use of false statements in order to obtain loans.

After questioning the suspects, the prosecutor applied to the Katowice-East District Court in Katowice for pre-trial detention of three suspects who were representatives of companies covered by the investigation. The remaining three suspects were released and placed under police supervision and subjected to property sureties.

The preparatory proceedings are multi-threaded. Further procedural activities are planned.

CBA Press Team