Janusz Palikot will not leave prison before Christmas. It was not possible to collect a PLN 2 million bail bond

On December 18, the District Court in Wrocław, considering the appeal of Palikot's defense to extend the pre-trial detention of the former MP until January 1, decided that he could be released from detention after paying PLN 2 million bail. The court set the deadline for paying the bail by December 26.

Palikot's representative, attorney Andrzej Malicki, said on Tuesday that Palikot's family and friends have not yet managed to collect such a large amount. – The deadlines set by the court for paying bail are very difficult to meet – said attorney Malicki. This means that Palikot will remain in custody for the holidays.

READ ALSO: Loaded in a bottle. What does the prosecutor's office accuse Janusz Palikot of?

As the Polish Press Agency learned earlier, on December 18, a prosecutor from the Lower Silesian Branch Department of the National Prosecutor's Office in Wrocław submitted a request to the District Court in Warsaw to extend Palikot's detention for another three months. – The prosecutor decided to apply for an extension of the detention because the acts accused of the suspect are punishable by high penalties and there is a fear of fraud – previously said prosecutor Katarzyna Calów-Jaszewska from the press team of the National Prosecutor's Office. This application would not be considered if Palikot paid bail and was released.

Janusz Palikot (agrees to the publication of the image and data), Przemysław B. and Zbigniew B. were detained on October 3 by CBA in Lublin and Biłgoraj. On the same day, they were taken to the department of the National Prosecutor's Office in Wrocław, where they were charged.

Palikot was charged with eight charges, including seven of fraud and one of misappropriating property. His colleagues, Przemysław B. and Zbigniew B., were also charged with fraud. Additionally, Przemysław B. was charged with misappropriation of property. The prosecutor's office applied preventive measures against them. The case concerns the unfavorable disposal of the property of several thousand people for the amount of nearly PLN 70 million in connection with the activities of companies belonging to the suspects. The allegations cover the years 2019-2023.

As previously announced by prosecutor Katarzyna Calów-Jaszewska, the fraud charges concern causing over five thousand victims to unfavorably dispose of their property in connection with the issue of series B shares by companies from the Capital Group – belonging to the suspects – and loan campaigns organized, promoted and supervised by the suspects.

According to the prosecutor's office, the offering documents regarding the issue of shares and loan campaigns presented false information that was misleading to the injured parties as to how the money paid by investors was used and as to the actual financial condition of the companies. 0 The invested funds were not intended for the purposes indicated in the issue documents, but were issued to cover previous liabilities of companies from the capital group that were in a bad financial situation – said prosecutor Calów-Jaszewska.

The prosecutor also announced that the charge of misappropriation concerns alcoholic beverages with a total value of over PLN 5 million. – The suspects stored alcoholic beverages in their warehouses in connection with a cooperation agreement concluded with one of the companies. After terminating the contract, they did not return the goods and sold them to third parties, she added.

According to the prosecutor's office, all suspects provided extensive explanations. Investigators do not disclose them. The most severe penalty for the crimes Palikot is accused of is 20 years in prison. Attorney Jacek Dubois, Palikot's second defender, previously announced that his client pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him. He argued that the case in which Palikot was charged had been ongoing for a year. The investigation into this case is being conducted by the Lower Silesian Branch of the Department of Organized Crime and Corruption in Wrocław.