77 people detained by the CBA. 1000 charges. 1.63 billion PLN losses of the SK Bank
The Office of the Central Anticorruption Bureau in Katowice conducts investigations, under the supervision of the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Warsaw, on the abuse of confidence by the authorities of the Cooperative Bank for Craft and Agriculture in Wołomin, on bookkeeping of the SK Bank contrary to the provisions of the accounting act and the disclosure in these books of inaccurate data and the concealment of truth and giving false information to the National Bank of Poland (NBP).
The biggest thread of the investigation are the circumstances connected with granting of a few dozens of credits to related economic entities from the development industry by the Cooperative Bank for Craft and Agriculture in SK Wołomin (SK Bank). Credits have not been repaid.
Among the 77 people detained in the CBA's operation - are former members of board and employees of the SK Bank, businessmen and representatives of companies from real estate industry.
Detentions took place (among others) in Warsaw, Wołomin, Ząbki, Radzymin, Pruszków, Zielonka, Tłuszcz, Legionów, Nasielsk, Kobyłka, Marki, Legionowo, Raszyn, Piaseczno and in Podkarpackie and Lublin Voivodeships.
The criminal activity of detained group led to the loss of great value in the assets of the Cooperative Bank for Craft and Agriculture in Wołomin (SK Bank). As of today, the bank employees and heads of associated companies detained by the CBA - are accused of acting to the detriment of the Bank for the amount of more than 1 billion 638 million zlotys.
The prosecutor's office will press - against the detained people by the CBA - more than 1,000 charges.
The CBA agents searched the apartments of detainees. Documentation is secure and may be used in criminal proceedings at a later stage. The purpose of the searches is also to secure the assets for future penalties and fines or may be used as a return of property lost by the Cooperative Bank of Crafts and Agriculture in Wołomin.
In February this year the officers of the Regional Office of the CBA in Katowice detained 6 people involved in the extortion of over 104 million PLN from SK Bank in Wołomin. Among the detainees are: entrepreneurs and property valuers, who were valuing real estates -which were the security of granted credits. According to the findings of the investigators from the CBA's Regional Office in Katowice and the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Warsaw, the real value of the properties - on which the mortgages to secure SK Bank's credits were established - was significantly lower than the value reported in the estimates conducted by property valuers. In this way, two companies obtained nine credits in the total amount of over 104 million PLN from the Cooperative Bank for Craft and Agriculture in Wołomin (SK Bank) between the years 2011 - 2014. After receiving the credits, the companies did not repay them, and the money was taken out, used in violation with appropriation described in the credit agreements.
Already earlier, at the end of September last year, the officers of the Central Anticorruption Bureau detained 13 people involved in fraud and the extortion of 100 million PLN from the SK Bank in Wołomin and from the Bank Spółdzielczy in Nadarzyn (cooperative bank). Among the detained by the CBA were former president and former vice president of the Bank Spółdzielczy in Nadarzyn. Over 100 charges were pressed against 13 detainees.
As far back as in May 2016, the CBA agents under the investigation, entered the SK Bank headquarters in Wołomin (Cooperative Bank for Craft and Agriculture in Wołomin), to the places of residence of persons in charge of the bank during the period of investigation, including the president and members of the board and to several dozen economic entities from the capital group operating in the property development sector - carrying out a number of process activities.
The investigation was entrusted by the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Warsaw to the CBA’s Regional Office in Katowice in April 2016. Also, the thread on abuse of trust and detriment of Bank Spółdzielczy in Nadarzyn was included in this proceeding. The actions of the CBA and the prosecutor's office are also related to the notification from the chairman of the Polish Financial Supervision Authority following the inspection of SK Bank in Wołomin.
Bank losses are estimated at approximately 2.7 billion PLN gross.
