Marcin Romanowski was detained on orders from the prosecutor investigating irregularities in the Justice Fund," the National Prosecutor's Office stated. associate of Parliament's lawyer Bartosz Lewandowski points to the unlawfulness of the decision to detain.
On Friday, the Sejm waived the immunity of associate Romanowski of Sovereign Poland, associate of the PiS club, and besides agreed to his arrest and temporary arrest. They relate to an investigation by the National Prosecutor's Office concerning the activities of the Justice Fund. In 2019 – 2023 Romanowski was Deputy Minister of Justice, who supervised the fund. The DA was going to file 11 charges against him.
On Friday, Romanowski stressed in his entry on the X portal that the allegations he was facing are unfounded and motivated by political vengeance. "I am convinced that I have always acted in accordance with the law," he declared. He added that he was ready to respond to these charges.
On that day, Romanowski's attorney, Bartosz Lewandowski, wrote on platform X that he had appeared with an MP in the prosecutor's office to present a position in the case, but they heard that no 1 could accept them and possibly could contact you on Monday. “What is the point of this request for detention and detention, since the substance is not so urgent,” Lewandowski wrote.
On Monday, the Chancellery of the Sejm, in consequence to, as it wrote, "untrue information appearing in the media space", stated that resolutions on Romanowski's case – 11 concerning criminal liability (for the individual actions included in the request for consent to a criminal prosecution) and 1 – about agreeing to detention and temporary arrest – were delivered by the Service of the Chancellery of the Sejm to the National Prosecutor's Office on Monday around 10:00 p.m.
"At the same time, we inform that the Sejm's Office was organizationally prepared to forward these papers to law enforcement authorities on Friday, July 12, and the decision to Monday took place on the initiative of the Public Prosecutor's Office. The Sejm and its organs and the Chancellery of the Sejm shall act immediately in this case", the message stressed.
Stanisław Zakroczymski, manager of the cabinet of the talker of the Sejm Simon Hołownia, said that on Friday, after the vote was finished, the applicable papers of Romanowski were signed by the marshal. He assured that the Chancellery of the Sejm was ready to deliver papers to PK on the same day, although it was after 4:00 p.m. "But there was a clear preference for these papers to be served this morning and so it happened, there is simply a confirmation of receipt," he added.
Shortly thereafter, Mr Lewandowski reported the detention of the MP. "It is the ABW that detains the MP at the Polish Parliament Marcin Romanowski at the command of the National Prosecutor's Office," Lewandowski wrote on platform X.
Proc. Przemysław Nowak, a spokesperson for the National Prosecutor's Office, informed about the detention shortly afterwards. He besides confirmed earlier information that Romanowski, on the orders of the prosecutor, had detained ABW officers.
"In the course of the investigation into irregularities in the Justice Fund, the prosecutor obtained evidence allowing Marcin Romanowski to be charged with 11 crimes, including taking part in an organized group aimed at committing crimes against property, and in peculiar by exceeding his powers, failing to fulfil his duties and certifying lies in documents, doing large harm in the property of the Treasury," said Proc. Nowak.
According to the D.A., the request to halt Romanowski was, first and foremost, due to "the legitimate concern of unlawful obstruction of proceedings (the alleged fear of procedural harassment) and the request to apply the preventive measurement immediately".
After bringing Marcin Romanowski to the National Prosecutor's Office, the prosecutor was to present charges to him and question him as a suspect.
According to the Code of Criminal Procedure, detention can last for the longest 48 hours. During this time, the law enforcement authorities should carry out the essential activities and release the detainee unless a decision is taken to transfer the detainee to the court with a request for interim arrest. This application must be recognised within the next 24 hours.
The investigation of the FS is ongoing, among others, on the breach of powers and the failure of the Minister of Justice and MS officials to fulfil their duties, including management, distribution and settlement of funds from the Justice Fund.
According to the D.A., they, acting in order to get property and individual benefits, gave discretion and any financial support to beneficiaries of schemes not linked to the objectives of the Justice Fund, thereby acting to the detriment of the public interest, the Treasury and the private interest, thereby limiting the availability of funds to eligible entities.
Lawyer: detention was illegal
Marcin Romanowski refused to sign the detention protocol, declaring that it was of an illegal nature," said the politician's attorney, Bartosz Lewandowski.
The lawyer informed journalists about this Monday afternoon just after Romanowski was removed from his apartment, where he was previously detained by ABW officers.
Mr Lewandowski said that no material applicable to the case was secured in Romanowski's apartment. He informed that before being removed, he had been searched in his presence to see if he had any items on him that could supply evidence of the case.
The talker stressed that he was surprised, as he said, by a spectacular way of stopping the MP, as he declared on Friday that he would voluntarily submit to all activities related to the investigation. Lewandowski stated that they had "very serious legal arguments" to claim that Romanowski's detention was illegal.
When asked if he would participate in activities with Romanowski in PK, Lewandowski said that he was going to the place to attend the hearing.
Source: PAP
RoM
