The Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Warsaw said it had filed an indictment against Szczucki, a member of the conservative Law and Justice party (PiS).
He is accused of exceeding his authority while serving as head of the Government Legislation Center under the previous United Right government, the coalition led by PiS.
The charge carries a possible prison sentence of between one and 10 years.
Prosecutors say that between November 2022 and October 2023, Szczucki created an education and communication department at the Government Legislation Center and hired six people without a competitive recruitment process.
They allege those staff were employed and paid as civil servants, but in practice worked on promoting Szczucki and helping run his campaign for the Sejm, the lower house of parliament, ahead of the October 15, 2023 election.
According to prosecutors, the group helped organize at least 82 campaign-related events while receiving salaries and other employment benefits from the Government Legislation Center, a state body involved in preparing legislation.
Prosecutors said the alleged actions caused losses to the State Treasury of at least PLN 900,000 (EUR 210,000, USD 245,000).
The prosecution also said the six hires lacked the education or professional experience expected for the jobs they were given. Five of them, investigators said, were members of Szczucki’s election team and worked in roles such as campaign chief, assistants, media contacts and social media staff.
Prosecutors said they took part in campaign meetings, handed out leaflets and sweets, set up banners and wore shirts bearing Szczucki’s name and campaign slogan.
Investigators argue the department was created solely for the purposes of Szczucki’s campaign and said all six employees left the office shortly after the 2023 parliamentary election.
The case began after an internal audit at the Government Legislation Center found irregularities in spending public funds in 2022 and 2023.
Szczucki was first charged in March 2025. He has denied wrongdoing.
Prosecutors said he argued he had the right to hire staff outside open competition and said working time records at the office were not kept electronically at the time.
Earlier, he called the allegation groundless and said the Government Legislation Center had operated properly under his leadership.
(rt/gs)
Source: PAP