A Łódź court on Wednesday delivered a verdict in a case involving Cezary Grabarczyk, a former justice minister and member of the Civic Platform, sentencing him to one year in prison with a one-year suspended sentence for allegedly obtaining a gun permit illegally. The ruling is not yet final and the controversy over the process continues to unfold in the Polish judiciary.
The case, which has been active since 2019 before the District Court of Łódź-Śródmieście, concerns a 2012 statement made by Grabarczyk in connection with a firearms examination. The proceedings allege that he allowed his name to be used in the examination report and related documents, and that he engaged in abuse of power for personal gain. The prosecution initially indicated potential penalties of up to eight years for the misstatement, and up to ten years for the abuse of power aspect, depending on the exact charges proven at trial.
The court ultimately found Grabarczyk guilty of the matters presented by the prosecution. The judgment, delivered by Judge Michał Racięcki, concluded that the accused had acted on March 19, 2012 in Łódź to secure personal benefits, specifically a license to possess two units of combat firearms for personal protection. The decision cited involvement with the authorities responsible for issuing such documents and referenced the examination records, attendance lists for theory and practical tests, evaluation results, and related proceedings. In the judge’s view, these actions exceeded authorized powers and violated the applicable laws and regulations governing arms and ammunition within the relevant police and administrative framework.
The court imposed a sentence of one year in prison on Grabarczyk, suspended for one year, along with a fine of PLN 7,200. The order also required the former MP to report to a probation officer every five months to monitor compliance during the probation period. In the same ruling, the court attached a similar sentence to Dariusz S., a former PiS member of parliament, who faced charges closely aligned with Grabarczyk’s, including exceeding powers and presenting untruths in connection with the firearms permit process. A separate, more substantial fine of PLN 12.5 thousand was imposed on a Dr. Beata J., who faced separate accusations related to verifying the suspect’s medical statements.
The verdict has not been finalised. Neither Grabarczyk nor the other defendants appeared in court at the moment the decision was announced, and the proceedings continue to allow for potential appeals and further procedural development.
The prosecutor from the Katowice regional office urged a stronger response, asking for one and a half years of imprisonment with two years of suspension for each defendant, along with a PLN 15,000 fine. Grabarczyk’s defense team, along with the other defendant, asserted their innocence and maintained that the charges did not establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
According to the regional prosecutor’s office in Katowice, the case centers on statements described as false within the weapons investigation report and examination cards from 2012, coupled with actions that exceeded powers to obtain personal gain. At that time, Grabarczyk served as a Member of Parliament and Deputy Speaker of the Sejm, a position that amplified the public attention surrounding the allegations. The documents in question allegedly enabled the issuance of a decree allowing Grabarczyk to own two combat firearms and a certificate authorizing him to purchase such weapons.
Investigative materials indicate that Grabarczyk did not participate in the formal theoretical or practical examinations for firearms license applicants before the police committee in Łódź, yet he nonetheless obtained permission. During the trial, he maintained his stance of not guilty and offered extensive explanations, while declining to answer certain questions from the prosecutor, accusing the prosecutor’s office of bias and lack of objectivity in handling the case.
The proceedings, marked by complex documentary evidence and competing legal interpretations, continue to unfold as the parties pursue the options available under Polish law to challenge or uphold the court’s decision. The case highlights ongoing concerns about the integrity of firearms licensing processes and the involvement of high-ranking officials in the procurement or manipulation of permit-related documents, a matter that has drawn scrutiny for several years within the Polish political and judicial landscape.
— The case reflects the evolving relationship between political accountability and the rule of law in Poland, with outcomes that may influence the discourse around governance, transparency, and the limits of executive power in sensitive regulatory procedures.
Note: The official records, including procedural documents and the governing statutes cited, remain subject to review and possible adjustments through the appeal process and subsequent judicial actions.