More detained in Polish strategic reserves corruption probe

Polish anti-corruption agents have detained three more former officials as part of a wide-ranging investigation into the management of the country's strategic reserves under the previous government, officials have said.

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cba.gov.pl

The detainees include a former employee of the Government Agency for Strategic Reserves (RARS) and two former heads of the National Development Bank (BGK) Foundation, state news agency PAP reported.

They were identified only as 36-year-old Paweł P., 52-year-old Renata K. and 42-year-old Włodzimierz D., in line with Polish privacy laws.

Prosecutors suspect them of diverting public funds for personal gain and political ends.

Jacek Dobrzyński, spokesman for the minister overseeing Poland's security services, said on X on Wednesday that investigators believe donations from state-owned companies intended for charitable activities were instead used to finance political activity.

🛑 Kolejne zatrzymania do afery #RARS za rządów PiS.

🛑 Dzisiaj rano na polecenie prokuratora Śląskiego Wydziału Zamiejscowego @PK_GOV_PL w Katowicach agenci Centralnego Biura Antykorupcyjnego zatrzymali 36-letniego Pawła P. – byłego pracownika Rządowej Agencji Rezerw…

— Jacek Dobrzyński (@JacekDobrzynski) July 15, 2026

The arrests were carried out by agents of the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA) on prosecutors' orders.

The investigation centers on alleged abuse of office and dereliction of duty by employees of the Government Agency for Strategic Reserves between 2021 and 2023.

Prosecutors are also examining procurement contracts for supplies purchased by the agency and other actions that may have harmed the public interest.

So far, 14 suspects have been charged with a total of 33 offenses.

Two strands of the investigation remain ongoing. One concerns contracts for generators, face masks and protective gloves purchased during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than a dozen people have been charged in that case, and prosecutors have already filed two indictments, according to the PAP news agency.

The second investigation focuses on the agency's purchases of low-quality coal in 2022 and 2023, during the government of former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.

Last month, a London court postponed until September 24 an extradition hearing for Michał Kuczmierowski, the former head of the Government Agency for Strategic Reserves.

Michał Kuczmierowski. Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka

Kuczmierowski was arrested in London in September 2024 at the request of Polish authorities under the post-Brexit extradition arrangements between the European Union and the United Kingdom.

Polish prosecutors allege that Kuczmierowski and another suspect, identified as Paweł S., were involved in an organized criminal group and committed offenses including abuse of office and failure to fulfill official duties for financial gain.

Investigators say the agency bypassed standard public procurement procedures while it was headed by Kuczmierowski, favoring selected companies and overpaying for supplies including generators and face masks purchased during the pandemic.

(pu/gs)

Source: PAP