Justice Ministry faces corruption allegations
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
21.03.2014 10:25
Poland's Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA) has notified the Attorney General of 'irregularities' in public procurement procedures of IT equipment and services at the justice ministry.
Photo: cba.gov.pl
The investigation covers the period 2007-2013 and concerns the purchase of ICT equipment and services, with over 100 million zloty (23.8 million euro) spent on allegedly irregular contracts, according to a statement issued by the CBA.
“We have checked the decisions [by the ministry] concerning public procurement,” CBA spokesman Jacek Dobrzynski told the Polish Press Agency (PAP).
Former justice minister Jaroslaw Gowin, who held the post from 2011 to 2013, called on the CBA to carry out an investigation after an internal 2012 audit raised concerns that ICT contracts had been awarded in an manner that was in breach of the laws on public procurement.
The allegations follow investigations into several of Poland's ministries last year.
Last November, Witold D. (full name withheld under Polish privacy laws), a former deputy minister of the interior, was among a group of officials arrested concerning allegedly irregular ICT contracts.
The CBA confirmed last autumn that it was conducting investigations into five ministries - justice, sport, science, culture and foreign affairs. (nh/pg)