Confession of a contrite official. Justyna Gdańska, former director of the purchasing office at the Government Agency for Strategic Reserves, apologizes after being released from custody and reveals irregularities in the Agency's operations. “This is the only way I can fix what happened due to my acceptance,” she explains to a journalist from “Wirtualna Polska”. In the same investigation, her former boss, former RARS president Michał K., who is awaiting extradition in London, and Paweł Szopa, head of Red is Bad, who is hiding from the justice system, are to face charges.
– I have no reason not to believe them – says Krzysztof Gawkowski, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Digital Affairs from the Left. – We were dealing with a huge scandal. Big money on the table and big scams that the authorities allowed – he comments. This is how today's government treats the words of a former official of the Government Agency for Strategic Reserves.
– Yes, I exceeded my authority. I understood that only by describing to the prosecutor what I had done would I be able to erase at least some of my guilt – says Justyna Gdańska, former director of the purchasing office at the Government Agency for Strategic Reserves.
Justyna Gdańska, under her full name after leaving custody, spoke in an interview for “Wirtualna Polska” about irregularities in RARS. She is one of two officials of the Government Agency for Strategic Reserves who were arrested and who were charged in July with exceeding their authority.
– She was released after a month only because she gave the testimony that the prosecutor's office expected – says Zbigniew Kuźmiuk, a member of parliament from Law and Justice.
“Some people don't want to die for Morawiecki's people, and neither does this lady”
According to investigators, there is only one reason for the dismissal – the fear of fraud has ceased. First, Gdańska's statements were consistent with the evidence, second, they extensively explained the mechanisms of irregularities and finally, third, she admitted guilt.
– He will do everything to get back to this child – this is how a month ago, former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki used the private situation of the official to explain why her testimony looked the way it did. – This, ladies and gentlemen, is psychological torture. This is what it looks like – he added.
Justyna Gdańska, former director of the RARS purchasing office, gave an interviewTVN24
Justyna Gdańska stated that she did not authorize the former prime minister to deal with her life, that she never hid behind the child, and that she was not intimidated, humiliated or blackmailed by investigators.
– Some people do not want to die for Morawiecki's people, and neither does this lady – notes MEP of the Civic Coalition Dariusz Joński.
“The president also did not have the authority to decide on every issue”
Justyna Gdańska's testimony de facto incriminates not only her former boss Michał K., but also the one who was to ultimately decide how the money would be spent. – The president also did not have the power to decide in every case. The final stamp on directional decisions was put by the Chancellery of the Prime Minister of the Council of Ministers – Justyna Gdańska said in an interview.
Why are such testimonies only appearing now? – I didn't know who to trust. I remind you once again of the ladder ending with high-level politicians. I didn't know anyone in the services, and if I did and went, what guarantee did I have that the interested parties wouldn't find out about it? – Justyna Gdańska explained.
The lack of trust – as it turned out later – was justified. – Sometime in June, Michał, then dismissed from RARS, recommended a lawyer to me. When we were reading the files with the lawyer, I noticed that he was writing down everything, except for what was related to me. I asked: “Will you be with me tomorrow?” He replied, confused, that he had an urgent matter to attend to in Warsaw, but would be back in the morning – said Justyna Gdańska.
– This organized group sent this lawyer so that he could be with them, read the case files, and warn the person who notified this unit – says Dariusz Joński.
“Who will guarantee Morawiecki?”
Justyna Gdańska's admission of guilt does not release her from responsibility for decisions she made earlier. – Nobody justifies breaking the law – says Tomasz Trela, a member of parliament from the Left. – She did it consciously and was fully aware of what was happening – notes Dariusz Joński.
– From what I know, RARS has always operated based on procedures – says Paweł Jabłoński, a member of parliament for Law and Justice. However, the prosecutor's office's knowledge of the matter is significantly different. – It turns out that it was manually controlled from the very top – informs Magdalena Sroka, a member of parliament for the Polish People's Party-Third Way.
Paweł Szopa, the head of Red is Bad, is still wanted, and is said to be hiding in South America. Michał K. has been charged with operating in an organized crime group and has been detained in London. He is now waiting for a court hearing in an extradition case.
– I heard that Morawiecki wants to provide bail for the head of RARS, who is in custody in London, but, of course, the following question arises: who will provide bail for Morawiecki? – asks Civic Coalition MP Cezary Tomczyk.
Main image source: TVN24