The move was announced by senior prosecutors and security officials at a news conference in Warsaw on Thursday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Daniel Lerman from the National Public Prosecutor's Office said: “In the investigation into irregularities in the granting of entry visas to Poland, prosecutors have so far brought charges against seven persons. Three persons have been put under temporary arrest.”
He told reporters that the probe had been launched in March, based on evidence provided by the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA).
Lerman added: “The investigation focuses on the fast-tracking of visa procedures in exchange for payments. It concerns several hundred visa applications submitted over the period of 18 months, the majority of which were rejected.”
He said the visa applications in question had been submitted to Polish diplomatic missions in Hong Kong, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates, India, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the Philippines and Qatar.
Meanwhile, the deputy minister for the security services, Stanisław Żaryn, said that the CBA had launched its probe into possible irregularities in the issuing of visas in July last year.
Żaryn added that the visa applicants in question had been “checked for potential impact on Poland’s national security, especially related to a terrorist threat.”
He told reporters that, according to Poland’s security services, “the arrival of these persons would have no impact on the security of our country.”
He also said that state agencies “took appropriate action” in the case.
“The CBA and prosecutors are fulfilling their duties,” Żaryn added.
Meanwhile, President Andrzej Duda said he was “awaiting the results” of the investigation into irregularities in the issuing of entry visas to Poland.
Speaking at a media briefing during the Krynica Forum 2023 policy conference in the southern Polish mountain resort of Krynica, the president said: “The relevant agencies are conducting proceedings into this case. I am also awaiting the results of these proceedings. As I can see, the proceedings are being carried out in an effective way.”
Last month, Poland's lawmakers approved a government plan to combine parliamentary elections on October 15 with a nationwide referendum on issues including illegal migration.
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP