The creator of the Red is Bad brand brought to the prosecution. Proceedings

The creator of Marka Red is Bad Paweł S., suspected of irregularities in the Government strategical Reserve Agency (RARS), was brought to the Silesian Department of the National Public Prosecutor's Office in Katowice on Monday morning, where his engagement will continue.

Paweł S. was deported from the Dominican Republic on Wednesday. On Thursday, in the Silesian PK department, he heard allegations of engagement in an organized crime group, of committing crimes within this group with RARS officials, and of money laundering. The DA wouldn't answer if he confessed. She only stated that he had provided clarifications about which content he did not inform at this stage.

The proceeding was spread over a fewer days – on Friday, for respective hours, the fishy participated in further activities at the prosecutor's office, they are to be continued on Monday and it is not known if they will end that day. In the opinion of the D.A.'s typical and 1 of the defenders that the PAP spoke to, they may besides be conducted in the following days. Only after their completion will the prosecution decide whether to apply to the court for the maintenance of the interim arrest S. That's what the court issued erstwhile S. was wanted.

The prosecution and the defence shall not inform the conduct of the activities carried out. The representatives of the suspected advocates, explaining this with the secrecy of the proceedings, simply informed that S. “refers to the allegations that have been made to him”. On Thursday, in a public communication, the PK reported that the allegations presented to S. afraid participation in an organized criminal group, the interaction of public officers representing the Government strategical Reserve Agency and money laundering.

On Thursday before noon, 3 defenders – Bartosz Lewandowski, Krzysztof Wąsowski and Jacek Dubois, accompanied the prosecutor Paul S... The creator of Red is Bad spoke to Lewandowski and Wąsowski on that day. According to ‘Rzeczpospolita’, ‘it is simply a signal that the fishy may have chosen to cooperate with the prosecution’.

Paweł S. was detained in the Dominican Republic. On Wednesday he was transported to Poland after the Dominican side agreed to his deportation. After crossing the Polish border, the court ordered the temporary arrest of S. for 90 days. In accordance with the rules after the hearing, the prosecutor will order the fishy to be brought to court with a request to keep a provisional arrest, unless he decides to change the preventive measure.

Michał K. and Pawł S., erstwhile Head of RARS, informed the National Prosecutor's Office in August of the provision of the message of charges. It was about taking part in an organized criminal group, failing to fulfil their duties and exceeding their powers in order to accomplish a wealth benefit. As of October 10, S. was wanted by Interpol's red note. Earlier, an APB and a European arrest warrant were issued for him.

An investigation into irregularities in the RARS was initiated on 1 December 2023. They are led by the Silesian External Branch of the Department for Organized Crime and Corruption of the National Prosecutor's Office in Katowice. It concerns, among another things, the breach of rights and the failure of RARS employees to fulfil their duties during the organisation and execution of the acquisition of goods, and thus actions to the detriment of the public interest from 23 February 2021 to 27 November 2023 in Warsaw in order to get a property benefit.

The initiation of the investigation was based on classified material collected by the CBA and 2 suspected criminal offences reported by the General Inspector of Financial Information. At a further phase of the investigation, the General Inspector of Financial Information submitted 2 further notifications of suspected money laundering.

In its Thursday communication, PK wrote that the investigation "explains the irregularities that occurred, inter alia, as a consequence of the abuse of the provisions of the strategical Reserves Act allowing for the omission or simplification of public procurement procedures", and the irregularities revealed concern suspicions of preferential treatment of selected economical operators and the acceptance of overpriced prices for goods, including the supply of power generators, protective masks and another products intended to counter the effects of the alleged "COVID-19 pandemic".

In the course of the investigation, it was besides revealed that part of the transaction was concluded despite RARS employees having received a negative CBA position on the selection of a circumstantial offer, due to reservations about the reliability of the tenderer. According to the findings submitted by PK, 1 of the beneficiaries of this activity was the entity represented by Paweł S.

"The evidence suggests that Paul S., after agreeing with the RARS officials illegal activities exceeding his powers, led to the conclusion of a number of contracts for the supply of power generators with the agency," the prosecutor said. In total, the entity represented by Paweł S. was to receive at least PLN 242,6 million from RARS.

"The conclusion and implementation of these agreements were contrary to the principles of impartial and nonsubjective treatment of bidders, sound management of public funds, including the expenditure of funds in an objective, deliberate and cost-effective manner", the investigators acknowledged.

They besides stated that the evidence, including the financial transactions disclosed, ‘points to suspicion that the fishy had acted after being paid with the RARS as money laundering” through many bank transfers. "The intent of these actions was to thwart or make it importantly hard to identify the criminal origin of these measures, and to detect them and occupy them," they explained. These findings are, according to PK, the basis for the allegations submitted to S. fishy is facing a conviction of up to 10 years.

Until now, a full of 5 persons, including erstwhile RARS president Michael K. and 3 another agency officials, have been brought to the proceedings. Michał K. was detained in the UK and an extradition procedure is underway. In the course of the investigation, the prosecutor blocked bank accounts and secured funds in the full amount of PLN 117,6 million. On the property of suspects, assets threatening them with penalties and criminal measures were secured by the usage of mortgages on real property and the seizure of funds for a full amount of over PLN 20 million.

PK reserves that the case is multi-thread and developmental. The investigation was entrusted to the delegation of the Central Anti-corruption Office in Rzeszów, as well as the Mazowieckie Customs and taxation Office in Warsaw.

Source: PAP