Thriftlessness in one of the mines owned by the Polish Mine Group SA (Polska Grupa Górnicza SA) with corruption in the background
Officers of the Katowice Regional Office of the CBA together with the District Prosecutor's Office in Gliwice investigate the acceptance of property and personal benefits by persons holding managerial functions in the former KWK (coal mine) Halemba-Wirek in Ruda Śląska (currently KWK Ruda forming part of Polska Grupa Górnicza SA) in exchange for commissioning the mine's employees carrying out work on the modernization of energy infrastructure located in its area, while these works were to be carried out by external companies under the contracts concluded as a result of tenders, and the delivery of electrical equipment with different technical parameters than those ordered.
As determined in the course of the investigation, persons holding managerial positions in the abovementioned mines applied to the Management Board of Kopalnia Węglowa S.A. (Coal Mine SA) with requests for the construction of new 6kV medium voltage switchgears in underground mine workings, as well as modernization of power equipment, built-up on the surface and in underground workings, indicating high costs associated with maintaining the proper technical condition of old power equipment and simultaneous inability to perform work by mine employees. Mentioned persons several times already at the stage of creating technical specifications, before starting the tender procedure entered into an agreement with future contractors of works, placing in the tender records on the supply of materials or technical parameters of equipment, allowing the selection of the right contractor.
As a result, there was a conclusion of contracts between Kompania Węglowa S.A. (currently PGG S.A.) acting in the role of the contracting authority, and mine-related companies, under which modernization of energy equipment was commissioned. Modernizations included delivery of new equipment, dismantling of old equipment, installation and activation of new devices. The subject of investigation are 20 contracts for modernization at the former KWK Halemba-Wirek area with a total value of 23,910,700 zł.
As it was established a series of works for the selected contractors were carried out by employees of the mine's electrical branch, at the behest of the person performing a managerial function in the mine. The aforementioned person was in this respect in agreement with the representatives of the contractors in exchange for which in the period from 2011 to March 2015, he accepted from them a financial benefit in the total amount of 563,000.00 zł.
In addition, it was determined that some of the ordered equipment, materials were not delivered by contractors, or have different technical parameters from those ordered. The expert appointed in the investigation, estimated losses in this respect at 2,685,953.66 zł.
Up to now, 6 persons have been charged with crimes in the case, who were accused of so-called managerial corruption, mismanagement of large sizes, as well as fraud to the detriment of Kompania Węglowa S.A. (currently PGG S.A.). The suspects in the case are both employees or former employees of KWK Halemba-Wirek, as well as representatives of mining companies operating orders for the Ordering Party.
In addition, for the future penalties, fines and the obligation to repair damage on property of suspects, a property security for the amount of approx. 1.53 million zł has been made.
The case is still ongoing.
