Sejm investigative committee into the so-called The former management of the consular department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs questions the visa scandal. The hearing of Jakub Osajda, who was dismissed from the position of director of the Legal and Compliance Management Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on September 15, 2023, and Maria Wiktoria Raczyńska, who was an assistant to then Deputy Foreign Minister Piotr Wawrzyk is on the program today. We invite you to follow the reports of the committee meeting.
Interrogation of Jakub Osajda
The hearing of Jakub Osajda, who was dismissed from the position of director of the Legal and Compliance Management Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on September 15, 2023, is still ongoing.
The witness has taken an oath. The witness took the opportunity to speak freely.
First of all, I would like to thank you for inviting me to this committee and for publicly addressing the issue that they tried to hide and, colloquially, sweep under the rug for months, and for the opportunity to share all the information (… ). United Right politicians claimed there was no visa scandal, not even a scandal. High Commission, there is no visa scandal whatsoever; there are many visa scandals that overlap (…). In addition to the visa scandal itself, we are also dealing with simple legislative tampering and failure to fulfill duties by senior political officials. We are talking about negligence such as processing the bill without any intra-ministerial consultation, bypassing public consultations, (…) and ultimately concealing the cost nature of the Foreign Service Act, which will lead to the MFA budget being approximately is underestimated. 200 million PLN per year.
– he said Jakub Osajda.
I would like to point out that, although I am a legal advisor by profession, I appeared here today with a lawyer because of the ongoing legal proceedings against the former management of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
– he pointed out.
I have never worked nor have I ever had visa problems within my jurisdiction, and I learned about the details of the visa scandal through the media, public opinion and from people associated with Piotr Wawrzyk on September 4, 2023. High Commission, my name should not have appeared at all in connection with the visa scandal, and any connection between me and Mr Piotr Wawrzyk’s activities in this case is unjustified and unfair. The information I have today shows that the media’s attempt to attribute my name to this case, as the cause of Piotr Wawrzyk’s problems, was part of a kind of smokescreen and disinformation of public opinion.
– added.
Without any will of my own, I was involved in political games at the highest level. Since the resignation of Mr. Piotr Wawrzyk, I have learned that the primary goal of the PiS staff would be to prevent the visa scandal issue from dominating the PiS election campaign. The information obtained from the head of the political cabinet, Zbigniew Rau, and his wife showed that the decision to dismiss me from work and include my name in the announcement was made at Nowogrodzka on the night of 14 to 15 September 2023, by a member of the PiS election team, who convinced this PiS president
– he pointed out.
Despite the real fear of what they would do next, after all, my name and career have already been destroyed, by attempting to civilly murder me, I submitted the case against the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to appropriate legal proceedings.
– he inquired.
The real cause of Piotr Wawrzyk’s problems was his own action, and it is clear that he did not act alone. Zbigniew Rau should know everything
– said the witness.
I will share all the evidence I have with the High Commission (…) to let it speak for itself
– he said.
The lawyer representing Jakub Osajda requested that the witness be heard behind closed doors after being released from legally protected secrets.
Michał Szczerba asked the witness to cooperate with the commission and emphasized that if he had to reveal a secret while answering a question, he would tell it. He also recalled possible penalties for a witness who wrongly fails to testify.
Questions are asked by Michał Szczerba, chairman of the committee.
Michał Szczerba asked who contacted him after his resignation from the Foreign Ministry, expecting him not to comment on the visa scandal.
The fact is that on September 15 I received notice of termination of my employment contract without giving any reason. (…) On the same day I spoke with the head of the political cabinet of Minister Zbigniew Rau, Mateusz Pali
– said the witness.
Questions are asked by Marek Sowa, vice-chairman of the KO committee.
Marek Sowa’s questions are about Jakub Osajda’s professional past. Ultimately, he revealed that when Piotr Wawrzyk became deputy head of the Foreign Ministry, he offered cooperation to Osajda, who subsequently took up the position of expert in the Foreign Ministry.
Questions are asked by Daniel Milewski, vice-chairman of the PiS committee.
Milewski asked about his introduction to Edgar Kobos. Osajda admitted that he thought he knew him well and in the final stages of his work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs he became his confidante. Osajda admitted that he even invited Kobos to his wedding.
Osajda was asked what he did while working at the Department of State’s Legal and Compliance Management Office. In response, Osajda presented the structure of the office.
Questions are asked by Maria Janyska from KO.
Janyska asks what visa scandals the witness had in mind in his free statement.
Firstly, it is a procurement system that does not cover tenders for such high amounts for outsourcing visas under the anti-corruption shield. (…) The second issue is, I will put it bluntly, the mother of all irregularities regarding the Foreign Office, namely the Foreign Service Act. It should have been a major reform (…), which has not yet been fully implemented. (…) Cost provisions mean that if it comes into force now, the ministry headed by Radosław Sikorski will go bankrupt
– said Osajda.
The next topic, (…) was the topic of inefficiency, lack of adequate coverage in foreign institutions
– added.
Questions are asked by Aleksandra Leo from Poland 2050.
MP Leo asked about possible requests from United Right politicians to expedite visas. Osajda noted that when it comes to Rafał Bochenek or KO’s Marshal Bogdan Borusewicz, he is not aware that these cases were settled with bribes.
Questions from Mirosław Adam Orliński from PSL.
tkwl
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Source: wPolityce