The councillor was charged with insulting a Polish Waters official in 2025 in Gościszów, in Nowogrodziec municipality, using words commonly regarded as offensive, during and in connection with her performance of official duties. This constitutes an offence under Article 226 § 1 of the Criminal Code. It is punishable by a fine, restriction of liberty or imprisonment for up to one year.
What happened in Gościszów?
In October 2025, two officials came at the councillor’s request to assess the condition of a retaining wall beside the Błotniak stream, which flows near his property.
– About two or three years ago, I noticed near my place of residence that the retaining wall by the river was leaning away from the vertical and was at risk of collapsing – the councillor explained in the courtroom. – A few years ago, drainage work was carried out to level the bed, and the company responsible for it undermined the foundations of this wall. After some time, it began to lean and pose a danger. (In 2025 – ed.) for this reason, I reported the matter to Polish Waters in Lubań and Lwówek several times – the councillor explained.
When the head of the Polish Waters office arrived in Gościszów to inspect the wall, the councillor allegedly heard from her that the condition of the wall was the residents’ fault. According to a witness’s testimony, in a strip one and a half metres from the watercourse, where nothing should be located, the officials noticed mown grass and several-year-old thuja trees growing there, whose root systems could have affected the condition of the wall.
– When we pointed out to the councillor the factors that could have affected the wall’s settlement, verbal aggression from him towards the head of the office began. The insults gradually followed. There was no physical aggression, but he waved his hands and told the head of the office that she was “incompetent” and “f**ked up”. There were also many words beginning with “k” – the witness testified.
The councillor, in turn, said at the hearing that he had recently contacted the Polish Waters official. – A few days ago, I went to the Polish Waters headquarters to apologise to the injured party if she felt in any way harmed by my words – the councillor said. – The lady stated that she would write a statement. I understood that the apology had been accepted and that, for this lady, the matter was essentially closed – the councillor added.
The witness confirmed that the councillor had visited the Polish Waters headquarters several days before the trial and that she was aware of the apology.
– I did not witness it, but I was informed that Mr (...) had indeed been there, apparently with the mayor, carrying flowers to apologise – the witness added.
The case before the court in Bolesławiec is ongoing.