Poland’s state prosecutor is looking to extend the pre-trial detention of an opposition MP who is accused of misusing public funds.
Marcin Romanowski, a deputy justice minister in the former United Right coalition government, was arrested by the Internal Security Agency on Tuesday after parliament lifted his immunity and approved pre-trial detention last Friday.
Prosecutors are pushing for a detention extension, citing the gravity of the charges and the risk of obstruction of justice, with penalties reaching up to 15 years in prison.
They accuse Romanowski of 11 crimes, including granting unlawful subsidies from the justice ministry's Justice Fund, a special reserve originally designed to help victims of crime that, according to prosecutors, was used to finance party interests by politicians from the Sovereign Poland party, a junior coalition partner of the former Law and Justice government.
According to the charges, the money was used for various unrelated purchases that were meant to boost support for Sovereign Poland politicians in their respective constituencies.
Poland's state prosecutor, Dariusz Korneluk, told the private broadcaster Polsat News on Tuesday that Romanowski could be detained for three months while awaiting trial.
Since taking office, the current ruling coalition has intensified its commitment to holding accountable those it believes are guilty of abusing power.
Prosecutors are pushing for a detention extension, citing the gravity of the charges and the risk of obstruction of justice, with penalties reaching up to 15 years in prison.
They accuse Romanowski of 11 crimes, including granting unlawful subsidies from the justice ministry's Justice Fund, a special reserve originally designed to help victims of crime that, according to prosecutors, was used to finance party interests by politicians from the Sovereign Poland party, a junior coalition partner of the former Law and Justice government.
According to the charges, the money was used for various unrelated purchases that were meant to boost support for Sovereign Poland politicians in their respective constituencies.
Poland's state prosecutor, Dariusz Korneluk, told the private broadcaster Polsat News on Tuesday that Romanowski could be detained for three months while awaiting trial.
Since taking office, the current ruling coalition has intensified its commitment to holding accountable those it believes are guilty of abusing power.
Source: PAP, TVP World
