CBA: Farmers deceived throughout the country
First detentions in the CBA investigation into activities of a criminal group which hampered tenders for agricultural lands. Tens of thousands of zlotys were demanded in exchange for withdrawal from the bidding. The CBA’s findings indicate that the practice covers the entire country. Documents related to hundreds of such tenders have been secured.
The Regional Office of the CBA in Poznań is carrying out an investigation into activities of a criminal group which hampered tenders for the purchase or lease of land. The group members used to give credibility to their bidding position by paying the bid bond, and further on, in the context of hampering the tender and bidding up, they demanded money from the entity most interested in the land in exchange for resignation from their participation in the tender. They practiced such schemes throughout the country.
The CBA findings indicate that the group was involved in such activities for at least half a year. The victims were mainly farmers who had leased the land that was re-put up for tender, or those who wanted to develop their farms.
Each time, the financial demands of the perpetrators could amount to tens of thousands zlotys. The victims, who were interested in the land, paid because they had been misled by the fraudsters.
The CBA agents detained Krzysztof Z. and Ryszard R. who in one of Wielkopolska towns demanded PLN 20 thousand from a bidder in exchange for their withdrawal from a tender for almost 40 hectares of agricultural lands. The men have faced allegation of having perpetrated a fraud.
As a result of a search, the CBA officers revealed several thousand pages of printed invitations to tender for the purchase or lease of real property and several hundred of proofs of bid bond payment in tenders and debt collector biddings for real property and movables, e.g. cars.
The CBA is checking whether or not the activities were detrimental to the State Treasury through hampering or frustrating the tenders issued by the Agricultural Property Agency.
We are requesting the farmers and other persons injured by that or other similar criminal groups to contact the Regional Office of the CBA in Poznań. Each case is equally important to us, and it will help curb the practice in the future.
The proceedings are carried out by the Regional Office of the CBA in Poznań, under supervision of the District Prosecutor's Office in Konin.
The investigation is in progress. The CBA does not preclude further detentions or extension of the list of allegations.
Public Information Division of the CBA
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CBA: Farmers deceived throughout the country
