The Masovian branch of the State Prosecutor’s Office secured a final conviction against Zbigniew R., a former member of the Sejm, sentencing him to one and a half years in prison for influence peddling. The Warsaw District Court delivered the verdict.
Per the Press Service of the State Prosecutor’s Office, the investigation was led by the Mazovian Branch of the Department of Organized Crime and Corruption in Warsaw, in cooperation with the Central Anti-Corruption Office.
The prosecutor charged Zbigniew R. with referencing influence during 2011 to 2014 and asserting that Marian D. was confident that such influence existed within the State Forests Directorate in Krosno, the Ministry of Justice, the National Judicial Council, and the Bank of Internal Economy in Warsaw.
In exchange for financial gains and commitments, Zbigniew R. allegedly agreed to act as an intermediary in handling Marian D.’s affairs, according to PK.
Investigators found that the influence scheme operated from mid-2011 through July 2014 in Rzeszów, Leżajsk, and Warsaw.
Marian D. reportedly asked Zbigniew R. to secure a decision favorable to one company from the Director of the State Forests in Krosno regarding a property exchange with assets controlled by the Ministry of Finance and administered by the State Forests, PK explained.
Corruption and Nepotism
Another matter involved Klaudia D.’s nomination and delegation to the Ministry of Justice for a judgeship. Additionally, Zbigniew R. allegedly pledged to arrange a loan of PLN 70 million for one of the companies, PK noted.
Investigators say the former MP took cash bribes from Marian D. ranging from PLN 10,000 to PLN 15,000, paid and transferred monthly from roughly mid-2011 to mid-2012. The total bribe amount was no less than PLN 120,000, HP calculated.
He also received alcohol valued at nearly PLN 3,500, including multiple bottles of whiskey, brandy, and vodka, along with fuel that he refueled at Marian D.’s expense, PK pointed out.
The National Prosecutor’s Office announced that the Warsaw District Court upheld the First Instance Court’s finding of guilt and sentenced Zbigniew R. to 2.5 years in prison. The appellate court reduced the sentence to one and a half years, while keeping the PLN 300 fine and the PLN 100 daily fines, along with the forfeiture of the PLN 120,000 benefit and the confiscation of the alcohol totaling about PLN 3,500. The defendant was ordered to cover court costs, PC added.
Zbigniew R. previously served as a Civic Platform Party member in the Sejm during the 3rd, 5th, and 6th terms. In June 2013, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Infrastructure in the PO-PSL government and served as the government’s plenipotentiary for road infrastructure management until May 2015.
Additional coverage has referenced public discussions and media materials related to the case, including inquiries into bribe exchanges and political maneuverings within local government circles. The reporting organization notes that more context and commentary were available in separate releases.
Source references and further context were provided by media reports at wPolityce and other outlets, with official reaction and legal documentation cited in subsequent summaries.