Former Polish Deputy Minister Arrested For Corruption, His Money For Campaign Saweran

Hala Stulecia, Wystowowa, Wrocielaw, Poland/ILLUSTRATION UNSPLASH/Obviouslyna Yanul

JAKARTA - Marcin Romanowski, the former deputy justice minister of Poland, was detained by the Homeland Security Agency. He was detained after losing parliamentary immunity as part of an investigation into misuse of public money for purposes including political campaigns.

The prosecutor suspected that the member of the conservative Sovereign Poland (PiS) party had misused money from Justice Fund which was allocated to help victims of crime.

During his eight years in power, PiS has been accused by critics at home and abroad of underestimating democratic rules, making public media the mouthpiece of the government, and changing the country to a very conservative value.

As reported by Reuters on Monday, July 15, prosecutors said they had evidence that Marcin Romanowski committed 11 crimes including surpassing his power and causing state financial losses.

A spokesman said Romanowski would be taken to the National Prosecutor's Office to be charged and questioned as a suspect.

Romanowski denied the allegations and said action to arrest him was politically motivated.

Local media reported that the money from the funds was used to attract voters in rural areas targeted by Sovereign Poland, by buying everything from fire engines to equipment for housewives' associations in villages.

Prosecutors also said that the 25 million zlotys (USD 6.41 million) of the funds were used to purchase the Pegasus phone hack software.

Polish lawmaker Michal Wos on Friday also lost his parliamentary immunity and was accused by prosecutors of abusing money from Justice Fund to buy Pegasus. He denies wrongdoing and says Pegausus is being used to fight crime.

Pro-European Prime Minister Donald Tusk's coalition government said it had paved the way for prosecutors to investigate previous government mistakes that should have been covered up.