Former justice minister Ziobro in USA. Investigators establish details of escape from Europe
The National Prosecutor's Office has confirmed that Zbigniew Ziobro left Europe on 9 May on a flight from Milan to New York. The former justice minister is accused of leading an organised criminal group and 26 offences related to the Justice Fund.
Former justice minister Ziobro in USA. Investigators establish details of escape from Europe
The politician left the Old Continent on 9 May, travelling the route from the Italian metropolis to the American financial capital — revealed during a briefing on 20 May by a spokesman for the central prosecuting authority. On board the aircraft, the former justice minister used a document issued for foreign press representatives.
Ziobro is currently residing overseas. In his own broadcast on a right-wing station on 10 May, he admitted that he had found himself on the other side of the Atlantic. Previously, over a period of several months, he had been hiding in Hungary, using protection granted by authorities in Budapest.
Investigators accuse the politician of overseeing a criminal structure while heading the justice ministry and abusing his office for purposes contrary to law. The indictment comprises 26 counts, including irregularities in the disposal of Justice Fund resources during the time when Law and Justice was in power.
In the current year, the lower chamber of parliament approved the bringing in and detention of the suspect. A decision was then issued to present him with the indictment. However, it transpired that the politician had already disappeared from Polish territory.
Washington transmitted a response to the intervention of Polish diplomats on 11 June. The American State Department refused to comment on the visa matter, indicating that criminal proceedings would be conducted in accordance with bilateral agreements and domestic regulations — according to Gazeta.pl.
The head of Polish diplomacy, Radosław Sikorski, expressed the expectation that during a visit to the White House, the head of state would raise the issue of revoking the document enabling the suspect to remain in the country. Meanwhile, the president's international affairs adviser, Marcin Przydacz, noted that this matter is not a topic of discussions at the highest level.
Source: Gazeta.pl
Source: Google News PL