The Rules, Deputies Affairs and Immunities Committee will prepare a report on the handling of Łukasz Piebiak’s request for permission to bring Member of Parliament Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus to trial. The Sejm will decide the further fate of the case. The former State Secretary of Justice wants to punish the controversial member of parliament for the words in which she accused him of participating in the so-called hate scandal.
READ ALSO: OUR NEWS. Will Scheuring-Wielgus stand trial? The Sejm will consider Judge Piebiak’s motion to prosecute the MP
Bizarre arguments were put forward by the MP’s defense at the committee meeting, which should suggest that as the “massive” media described the alleged misconduct, the matter is clear. Proof? According to Krzysztof Śmiszek, who is the representative of the left-wing member of parliament, media reports and press articles, as well as testimonies from the allegedly remorseful former associates of Łukasz Piebiak, are sufficient. There were also hysterical statements about the “harassment” of the opposition.
The aim is to intimidate MPs when it comes to legitimate criticism and description of the facts. (…) The Member of Parliament used arguments that were present in the media with enormous reach. All of Poland discussed media allegations made by a major publishing house, a major editorial board, media allegations in the context of the hate scandal. (…). One can put forward a statement, an argument, these are media and journalistic discussions (…) that Mr. Łukasz Piebiak (…) actively participated in the hate group. If what the media says is true, then (…) we are dealing with a gigantic scandal
– argued Krzysztof Śmiszek, who did not provide any evidence that the words of Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus about the former deputy minister of justice are based on any evidence.
Reach guarantee impunity?
Powerful counter-arguments against MP Śmieszek’s line of defense were presented by Law and Justice MP Zbigniew Dolata.
To be honest, I’ve seen a lot in the Sejm, but such a line of defense was hard to expect. It turns out that it is enough to go to the Sejm stage and you can say anything, and freedom of debate forgives everything. You can slander anyone. Nowy, now imagine a situation where we go to the podium and slander MP Śmiszek. We can rely on media news. We can say anything, throw the worst insults. Today, in a world where there is social media, we will see a lot of accusations and fake news. Should we set a standard? Congratulations on this standard. It’s enough to stand on stage and say anything
said Dolat.
This line of defense is absurd. Finally, the proxy said that the deputy had no device to verify media allegations and allegations. What is a Member of Parliament? According to the lawyer, he has a speech device. It would be good if the deputy had common sense and I wish Mrs Scheuring-Wielgus that
said the PiS MP.
As far as media reports are concerned, I am not aware of any provision that would state that media reports, even with an enormous reach, guarantee impunity.
– argued Łukasz Piebiak’s lawyer, lawyer Krzysztof Wąsowski.
Piebiak’s conclusions
The case, which went to the Sejm Rules Committee, concerns the statements made by the MP to Judge Łukasz Piebiak. The MP believed in the nonsense of some media that the former minister in the so-called “hate scandal” at the Ministry of Justice. On the basis of fabricated information and obvious manipulations, attempts were also made to attack Minister Zbigniew Ziobro.
(…) I accuse Joanna Izabela Scheuring – Wielgus née Bąkowska of the fact that: on July 15, 2020 in Warsaw, publicly from the stage of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, while also using mass media, Judge Łukasz Konrad falsely slandered Piebiak about the fact that, as Deputy Minister of Justice, he headed the system, which aimed to hack judges and prosecutors, i.e. behaviors that could demean him in the public eye or expose him to the loss of trust which is necessary to exercise the office of judge – i.e. for a crime joke. 212 pp. 2 kk
– we read in the private indictment, which Judge Piebiak sent to the District Court for Warsaw – Śródmieście.
The deputy is protected by parliamentary immunity, but Łukasz Piebiak also applied to the Sejm for permission to hold Scheuring-Wielgus criminally liable.
In the opinion of the complainant, the above action exhausts the characteristics of the crime mentioned in art. 212 of the Penal Code, because the object of protection of the libel offense mentioned in this provision is reputation, and the protection of reputation rests with every person, regardless of his opinion (…). In order for the case to be heard by the Court, the immunity of the above persons must be waived. MP. In view of the above, it must be assumed that there are circumstances justifying the issuance by the Sejm of the Republic of Poland of a resolution allowing the criminal liability of Member of Parliament Joanna Izabela Scheuring-Wielgus
– we read in the petition of judge Łukasz Piebiak to the Sejm.
As for today’s meeting, it is shocking that some Members want to guarantee themselves impunity, not only through immunity, but also through press material that has not been corroborated by any investigation or judicial process. The media and political lynching of the then (August 2019) Deputy Justice Minister Łukasz Piebiak is one of the dark carriages of Polish politics.
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Source: wPolityce