Warsaw (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) â Ryszard Czarnecki, a Polish opposition politician and ex-deputy president of the EU Parliament has been charged with alleged financial fraud perpetrated while he was serving as a MEP.
Ryszard Czarnecki, who failed his seat as an MEP for the national-conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party at the European elections in June this year, is charged with falsely reporting his residence to benefit from reimbursements for travel expenses to Brussels.
What are the charges against Ryszard Czarnecki?
According to investigators, this led to an unjustified financial profit of about âŹ203,000 between 2009 and 2013. The politician denies the accusations against him, which he states are being brought on âpolitical ordersâ. The inquiry by Polish prosecutors into the misappropriation of funds was started following a notification by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) in 2020. The body challenged the validity of âŹ100,000 reimbursed to Czarnecki for travels between 2009 and 2018.
In a statement issued, the prosecutorâs office stated that the charge relates to the ââUnfavourable disposition of property of a substantial value in the total amount of âŹ203,167, through the misrepresentation of papers drawn up and signedââ between 2009 and 2013.
Czarnecki allegedly deceived the EU Parliament when submitting his reimbursement assertions, stating that he lived in JasĆo in southeastern Poland. He was living in Warsaw, some 340 kilometres to the north and closer to Brussels. He also allegedly falsified the types of vehicles he used for the travel. According to the investigators, he pointed out 243 such claims. If found culpable, he could face a jail sentence of up to 15 years.
They initially desired to bring charges against him in February, but at the time he had permitted immunity as an MEP. Prosecutors sent a recommendation to the EP to lift the immunity. However, in June, Czarnecki failed to be re-elected, thus forfeiting his immunity.
How does Czarnecki defend against the fraud accusations?
The former MEP did not confess the charges and presented a brief explanation in which he refused to have committed the fraud, expressed prosecutors. Speaking to broadcaster Polsat, Czarnecki stated that he âcategorically opposes these allegationsâ, which he stated were the âexecution of a political order by the prosecutorâs officeâ. âTwo years ago, I repaid all the funds in question, so I am surprised that this topic is still discussed. These irregularities [in expense claims] were the fault of my associates, but I take responsibility,â he said.
A representative for the prosecutorâs office overseeing the case told the Rzeczpospolita daily that Czarnecki had returned more than âŹ104,000 but contended that ârepayment does not resolve the matterâ. âIt can at most have an effect on the sentence or on a possible duty to make reparation. But it does not automatically generate depenalisation, meaning the person is no longer criminally liable. These are two separate issues,â he stated.
