Polish police searched monastery for fraud suspect, spokesman confirms

Polish police, following a prosecutor's directive, conducted a search of the Dominican monastery in Lublin, suspecting that Marcin Romanowski, wanted under a European Arrest Warrant and accused of embezzling over 107 million PLN (around 24.61 million EUR), was concealing there.

The prosecutor's office issued a search warrant for the Dominican monastery in Lublin, in eastern Poland. They were looking for Marcin Romanowski, who had been hiding in Hungary.

Grand Warszawski/Shutterstock, Krzysztof Swieżak / Polskie Radio

The search took place before Christmas, on December 19, as confirmed by Przemysław Nowak, spokesman for the National Prosecutor's Office, in a comment to the Polish state news agency PAP.

The operation, which lasted under 90 minutes and involved the use of drones, stirred controversy among clergy. The monastery denied any connection with the lawmaker. The prior confirmed that no religious spaces were disturbed.

Romanowski, a former deputy justice minister and member of the ruling right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party, has since sought political asylum in Hungary. On social media, he called for transparency in the police and prosecutor’s actions, alleging abuse of power and demanding evidence justifying the arrest warrant and search.

Prosecutors accuse Romanowski of involvement in a criminal group and financial misconduct tied to the Justice Fund, including granting funds to ineligible entities and embezzling public money.

Exterior of the Basilica of St. Stanislaus in Lublin, eastern Poland. Photo: Wikimedia Commons/CC-By-SA-3.0

Source: PAP

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