We received information that Robert Relich, the former mayor of Nowogrodziec, came to Joanna Świder while she was at work. It concerned a company laptop. The visit was reportedly so uncomfortable for the mayor that she reported the incident to the police.

– Last week, the Nowogrodziec police station received a notification from the Nowogrodziec Municipal Office concerning the conduct of one of the residents. Police officers are carrying out verification activities in this matter – says police spokesperson Anna Kublik-Rościszewska.

When asked whether such a situation had occurred, Robert Relich replied that he would not comment on the matter.

We are awaiting Joanna Świder’s official comment for the press. Below is what the mayor said at the latest session of the Nowogrodziec city council.

– Unfortunately, I have faced attacks from the former mayor – Joanna Świder said at the council session. – Despite being informed that a meeting was in progress, Relich barged into my office with a private computer that had once been office equipment. When Robert Relich was leaving the office, a digital security specialist asked him to delete all data and restore the device to its factory settings. Unfortunately, the former mayor refused and left the office with the device not formatted. After three weeks, the security measures blocked his access to the device. This upset him – the mayor explained at the session.

We wrote about the political tensions in the Nowogrodziec municipality in the article: Political war within school walls? Parents and teachers versus the headmistress.

Joanna Świder’s official comment

Dear Editorial Team,
In response to questions concerning the threats and the former mayor’s intrusion into my office, I would like to inform you that:

On October 14, 2024, a comment appeared on one of the Facebook pages reading: “The mayor should be shot!”, which I interpret as a serious threat to my life and safety. Consequently, I immediately went to the police station in Nowogrodziec, where I filed an official notification.

After my questioning, the case was transferred to the District Police Headquarters in Bolesławiec and is being conducted under the supervision of the prosecutor’s office. A few days after the comment was published, the person responsible for writing it contacted me by phone and expressed remorse. On October 25, the woman visited me in person, apologizing for the entire situation and presenting written apologies and flowers. Nevertheless, the explanatory proceedings are still ongoing.

As for the incident on October 22, a meeting concerning the operation of SPZOZ in Nowogrodziec was being held in my office that day, during which it was disrupted by the former mayor. Despite an employee explaining that an important meeting was taking place, the former mayor barged into the office, demanding that a private computer, which had formerly served as official equipment, be repaired. To avoid escalation, I instructed the employee to comply with this demand.

Then, while waiting for the repair, the former mayor summoned employees of the municipal services department, demanding information about third parties. I also filed a notification concerning this matter at the Nowogrodziec police station and am awaiting the results of the proceedings.

Yours sincerely, Joanna Świder