The Jelenia Góra Prosecutor’s Office is supervising an investigation conducted by the Internal Security Agency against Kazimierz S., chairman of the district structures of the Democratic Left Alliance, and Józef B., former Mayor of Bolesławiec.

Both men were accused of having, in March 2004, invoked their influence with national activists of the Democratic Left Alliance and undertaken to act as intermediaries in resolving a matter in exchange for obtaining personal benefits for themselves and other people. Kazimierz S. and Józef B. had prepared a draft agreement between Piotr R., Mayor of Bolesławiec, and the chairman of the District Council of the Democratic Left Alliance, which they presented to Piotr R. on 16 March 2004. The agreement proposed arranging the swift completion of the municipalisation of the Bolesławiec Water and Sewage Company in exchange for Piotr R. providing personal benefits.

These benefits were allegedly to consist of reinstating three people indicated by Kazimierz S. in employment at the City Office and guaranteeing employment to Bata M., Artur P. and Zbigniew M. These people had started working during Józef B.’s term as mayor. In addition, Piotr R. was allegedly to bring about the breakup of the existing coalition and consequently cause councillors gathered around Mayor Piotr R. to support a motion submitted by the Democratic Left Alliance to dismiss the Bolesławiec District Governor, and then elect Kazimierz S. to that position.

The suspects also demanded that Józef B. be guaranteed a management contract in the future company established on the basis of the municipalised State Water and Sewage Company, and that two people recommended by the Democratic Left Alliance be appointed to its supervisory board. They also demanded that people designated by that grouping be appointed to the supervisory boards of other municipalised companies.

The Mayor of Bolesławiec did not accept the proposal. Kazimierz S. and Józef B. did not admit to committing the alleged offence. Against both suspects, the Jelenia Góra District Prosecutor applied non-custodial preventive measures in the form of police supervision and a property bail of PLN 5,000. The offence with which they are charged carries a sentence of between six months and eight years’ imprisonment.

Updated 2006-12-20 14:10

As reported by Ewa Węglarowicz-Makowska, a prosecutor at the Jelenia Góra Regional Prosecutor’s Office, Piotr R. testified that he had reported an attempted bribery two years earlier. It is now being examined whether this was actually the case and, if so, why the proceedings took so long.

(RPPR/KG report)