A London court has granted bail to a senior official from Poland’s previous government, who is being pursued in a parliamentary fraud probe.
Michał Kuczmierowski headed the Government Strategic Reserves Agency (RARS) between 2021 and 2024 and is one of dozens of former officials being investigated as part of an inquiry by Poland’s new government.
He was detained in London under a European arrest warrant and awaits an extradition hearing on fraud charges. The Westminster Magistrates' Court told Polish state news agency PAP last week that Kuczmierowski would remain in custody as he was unable to pay the requisite £200,000 surety plus £365,000 property guarantee.
However, Kuczmierowski left custody on Sunday evening after the full bail amount had been paid, PAP reported. Following his release, he told private broadcaster TVN24 that he was innocent and described the actions against him as a “flood of hate.”
He also said he would return to Poland and await a fair trial in order to defend his reputation.
The investigation into irregularities at RARS concerns allegations of contracts being awarded without the tender process required by Polish law.
Entrepreneur Paweł Szopa, founder of the Red is Bad patriotic-themed clothing brand, was arrested last year in the Dominican Republic and deported to Poland in October to face charges of collaborating with Kuczmierowski to secure public contracts.
He was detained in London under a European arrest warrant and awaits an extradition hearing on fraud charges. The Westminster Magistrates' Court told Polish state news agency PAP last week that Kuczmierowski would remain in custody as he was unable to pay the requisite £200,000 surety plus £365,000 property guarantee.
However, Kuczmierowski left custody on Sunday evening after the full bail amount had been paid, PAP reported. Following his release, he told private broadcaster TVN24 that he was innocent and described the actions against him as a “flood of hate.”
He also said he would return to Poland and await a fair trial in order to defend his reputation.
The investigation into irregularities at RARS concerns allegations of contracts being awarded without the tender process required by Polish law.
Entrepreneur Paweł Szopa, founder of the Red is Bad patriotic-themed clothing brand, was arrested last year in the Dominican Republic and deported to Poland in October to face charges of collaborating with Kuczmierowski to secure public contracts.
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