In December last year, we reported that the prosecutor’s office in Bolesławiec was looking into a conversation between councillors Marcin Stróżyński and Stanisław Chwojnicki. The former claims that the latter offered to arrange everything in exchange for voting appropriately.
The prosecutor’s office initiated proceedings concerning influence peddling, which allegedly took place in October 2019. At the time, Councillor Stróżyński said that Stanisław Chwojnicki had promised to help him arrange various matters.
Mr Chwojnicki told me that if I voted the way the coalition wanted, one of the mayors would arrange everything I wanted for me. I even have a recording for my own protection.
The case was referred to the District Prosecutor’s Office in Jelenia Góra, which discontinued the investigation:
(...) On 27 April 2020, a decision was issued to discontinue this investigation, conducted in relation to an offense under Article 230 §1 of the Penal Code, due to the lack of sufficient data substantiating suspicion that an offense had been committed, pursuant to Article 17 §1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. At the same time, I indicate that this decision is final.
Article 230. [Płatna protekcja bierna] § 1. Anyone who, invoking influence in a state or local-government institution, an international or national organization, or a foreign organizational unit managing public funds, or creating or reinforcing another person’s belief that such influence exists, undertakes to act as an intermediary in arranging a matter in exchange for a financial or personal benefit, or the promise thereof, shall be subject to imprisonment for between 6 months and 8 years.