They won millions worth of IT tenders thanks to fraud
They sold 3256 computer sets for 9.5 million zlotys to public institutions throughout the country - all with illegal software. Now they have been detained by the CBA agents from Białystok, among others for fraud in order to extort public procurements.
Officers of the CBA Regional Office in Bialystok detained three businessmen involved in the sale of computer hardware and software. They misled the institutions and local governments who ordered the equipment as to the legality of the software, understated prices and won tenders. In the course of the investigation, it was established that the detainees thus obtained public contracts for the purchase of 3256 computer sets with a total value of over 9 million 590 thousand zł.
Companies of persons detained by the CBA, provided computer equipment to 16 institutions and local governments, including to the Chancellery of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, to the Marshal's Office of Warmia and Mazury Voivodship in Olsztyn and the City Hall of Poznań, City Hall of Tychy, Municipal Office of Radom, or City Hall of Krakow. Deliveries were carried out in this way in years 2012-2016.
Officers of the CBA's Regional Office in Białystok in the investigation conducted under the supervision of the District Prosecutor's Office in Olsztyn, determined that detained businessmen bidding for the purchase of computer equipment run by state and local government institutions offered computer sets and portable computers with the operating system and office software of a well-known brand that did not come from legal distribution. The CBA findings made in cooperation with the software manufacturer indicate that the authenticity certificates were forged and the keys illegally generated.
Thanks to the fact that they did not pay for legal software, the offers of these businessmen were cheaper and very competitive with other distributors of computer hardware. Their companies were indicated and selected in tenders as the most advantageous prices.
The CBA agents conduct pre-trial activities consisting in searching 5 places - companies' headquarters in the Mazowieckie and Lubuskie voivodships.
Detainees caught by the CBA will be taken to the prosecutor's office, where they will hear charges regarding fraud to extort public procurement.
The case is not finished, further detentions and charges are not ruled out.
Piotr Kaczorek, CBA
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They won millions worth of IT tenders thanks to fraud
