“Giant scam”. MEPs: the case of the NCBR referred to the European Prosecutor's Office

MEPs of the Civic Coalition announced that the case of the National Center for Research and Development (NCBR) was transferred to the European Prosecutor's Office. As they explained, it is to investigate in connection with mismanagement and exposure to the losses of European Union funds.

MEPs of the Civic Coalition Michał Szczerba and Dariusz Joński presented on Monday at a press conference the findings regarding the controls they conducted, being MPs to the Sejm.

– The control, which we carried out with the Ionian MP two years ago at the National Center for Research and Development (NCBR), which was taken over by the European Office for Combating Financial Abuse (OLAF), has been transferred to the European Prosecutor's Office in recent days in order to investigate in connection with mismanagement, at risk of loss of European Union funds – said Michał Szczerba.

Read also: RARS scandal and NCBiR. Szczerba: an attempt to bring money to the PiS election campaign

The MEP pointed out that the NCBR case was associated with large European funds, which – as he said – were to be sent to Polish scientists, startups, institutions that deal with issues such as e.g. cyber security. – In fact, we stopped gigantic corruption, stopped a giant scam and saved about a quarter of a billion zlotys from these projects – said Szczerba.

In March last year, the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Warsaw initiated an investigation into the NCBR after notifying the Supreme Audit Office. In October 2023 NIK She found numerous irregularities both in the process of preparing and organizing the call for applications for co -financing in the “Fast Path – Digital Innovation” competition and at the stage of selection of projects.

According to NC NCBR, it did not follow the competition regulations and its own internal regulations. Until now, almost 30 people have heard allegations in this matter.

Iński: Rars has become a “hollow”

Szczerba emphasized at the conference that in addition to the NCBR case and the Ionian MEP, they also dealt with the matter of the Government Strategic Reserve Agency. – Rars did not only have European funds, but also national funds. It turns out that the former Minister of Culture and National Heritage Piotr Gliński He donated the government agency of strategic reserve PLN 6 million – pointed out Szczerba.

He pointed out that in the case the creator of the Red is Bad Paweł S. brand appears, who – as Szczerba said – gets a purchase order, among others, bubble foil or adhesive tape.

– But Paweł S. is not looking for these materials where it is cheap. He goes to the first better construction store, buys all these things and with a gigantic bedspread sells the government agency of strategic reserves – said Szczerba.

– It is no accident that there was no tender procedure there and it is no accident that PiS politicians' friends won these very lucrative competitions to provide, among others, aggregates – said Iński. According to the politician of the Civic Coalition, Rars became a “hollow”, in which money was kept for PiS politicians for an election campaign.

Investigation

The investigation into irregularities in the activities of RARS Silesian Division of the National Prosecutor's Office has been conducting the basis for initiating the proceedings from April 12, 2024. CBA and two notifications of suspected committing crimes submitted by the General Inspector of Financial Information.

According to PK, the evidence gathered justifies the suspicion that when performing tasks in RARS, abuse was committed, including provisions allowing the agency to omit the procedures specified in the Public Procurement Law.

Until now, 21 allegations have been presented in the investigation to eight people, including former RARS President Michał Kuczmierowski (agrees to give his surname), three other agency officials, as well as Paweł S. – creator of the Red IS BAD brand.

The allegations concern in particular participation in an organized criminal group, exceeding powers by public officials, money laundering and reference to influence in a public institution. They also include irregularities in spending not less than PLN 340 million by the Agency.