CENTRAL ANTI-CORRUPTION BUREAU always in the interest of Poland Former management board of Chemical Plant Police (Zakłady Chemiczne Police SA) detained. In the background the mine investment in Senegal for $ 29 million. - News -

The multi-thread investigation conducted by the Regional Office of the CBA in Szczecin, under the supervision of the Regional Prosecutor's Office concerns, among others, offences against the essential economic interests of Poland and causing financial damage of large size to Azoty Group Chemical Plants Police SA in connection with a series of unjustified economic decisions.

The court has received requests from the Prosecutor's Office for pre-trial detention of all of the 10 detainees.

Detained by the CBA were responsible, took part in the decisions, that caused financial damage to the large size of the Azoty Group Chemical Plants Police SA.

CBA agents have searched dozens of locations in Poland - apartments and companies cooperating with Chemical Plants Police.

One of the threads of the investigation concerns the investment decisions taken in 2014 - the purchase of company by Azoty Group, which was responsible for the exploitation of the phosphorite opencast mine in Senegal. The agreement amounted to 29 million dollars. In this "Senegalese" thread the prosecutor blamed four of the detainees caught by the CBA for making a $ 6 million damage to the African Investment Group S.A. - a company dependent on the Chemical Plants Police. According to investigation findings, the president of Azoty Group Chemical Plants SA, the management board of this company, and the president of African IG SA's subsidiary, were aware of the fact that the services would not be realized already at the time of signing the contract for certain services around investment in Senegal. However, the money was paid. CBA's findings indicate, that a crime against significant Polish economic interests has been committed.

Another decision of the management of Chemical Plants Police, which led to financial damage in large size - for over 4.5 million zł, was the decision to buy thousands of tons of Kenyan ilmenite. Minerals did not meet technical standards and were not suitable for self-production. Although, it was known, that the special technological trials of the trial batch did not indicate the possibility of using the mineral in economic way - in place of other previously used - and necessary laboratory tests were not carried out, the contract was awarded. The product of Chemical Plats Police - white titanium - obtained using this ilmenite did not meet the technical requirements - including in terms of color. This transaction took place in the fall of 2015, when the president, vice president and director of the Strategic Purchasing Department signed the order.

In the spring of 2016, the president and vice-president exceeded their powers by signing with their directors several non-competition agreements. According to investigators from the CBA and the prosecutor's office, these contracts were constructed in a manner that was extremely unfavorable for Chemical Plants Police but very beneficial for the directors. High compensations were determined in them. The amount of financial damage that could have been caused by these activities is over PLN 2.4 million.

Another thread in which the damage caused to the Azoty Group is estimated at over PLN 2.7 million is the choice of a specific forwarder against the company's internal regulations, without the offer proceeding and deliberately overstating shipping rates above the market ones. Here too, the former president (among others)  faced charges.

Other findings concern misappropriation of approx. 200,000 PLN in the years 2014/15 to the detriment of the Foundation for the Development of Women's Volleyball, which was funded by Chemical Plants Police. The president of Chemical Plants Police had directed others to commit the act.

There are more threads to be investigated by the CBA and prosecutor's office.

Investigation is ongoing. The prosecutor does not exclude the extension of the list of charges.