The key facts
- Charges brought on November 4, made public on November 10; he faces up to 10 years in prison
- The case involves £1 million, €405,000 and almost 6.7 million zlotys entrusted for management
- Apartments in Warsaw were sold, and the mansion in Chaenty (~5 million zlotys) was transferred to underage children — according to the investigation, to conceal assets
Charges and amounts
Poland's Deputy Foreign Minister Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski has been charged with embezzling multi-million sums and concealing assets from creditors. This was reported by the Polish radio station RMF24 citing the country's National Prosecutor's Office. The charges were brought as early as November 4, but were only made public on November 10. According to the investigation, the case involves £1 million, €405,000 and almost 6.7 million zlotys. These funds were entrusted to the politician for management by the Polish collector and philanthropist Andrzej Ciechanowiecki and the Non Omnis Moriar foundation. The politician faces up to 10 years in prison.
What the investigation claims
According to the prosecution, Bartoszewski spent part of the money on his own needs and used the rest to purchase, renovate and furnish three apartments in Warsaw. The real estate was registered to a company owned by him and his wife. The apartments were later sold, but the proceeds, the investigation claims, were never returned to the rightful owners. The second charge concerns alleged attempts to conceal assets from seizure: investigators believe Bartoszewski and his wife took actions to prevent the enforcement of a possible court ruling ordering the return of the funds. In particular, this concerns the sale of real estate and shares in the family company, changes to the property arrangements between the spouses, and the transfer of a country mansion in Chaenty worth about 5 million zlotys to their underage children. As the Polish outlet Rzeczpospolitareports, the investigation views these actions as a possible attempt to deprive creditors of the ability to recover the debt.
The defendant's position and the status of the case
Bartoszewski himself has rejected the charges: after questioning he pleaded not guilty and gave brief explanations. His wife, who faces similar charges, also pleaded not guilty. The prosecution does not intend to arrest the official for now. Back in early October, Bartoszewski voluntarily waived his parliamentary immunity, which allowed investigators to bring charges. Despite the criminal investigation, the politician continues to hold the post of Deputy Foreign Minister of Poland and remains a member of the Sejm from the Polish People's Party. Life.ru also recalled that Bartoszewski had previously suggested Hungary leave the EU and NATO after critical remarks by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán about the policies of European states.
