Łódź. Three million zlotys extorted as part of a subsidy for running schools

Policemen from Łódź broke the criminal group, whose suspects are, among others, to extort nearly three million zlotys as part of a subsidy for educational institutions. The officers also liquidated the printing house of fake school IDs and certificates. A total of 10 people were detained.

On Thursday, Edyta Machnik from the Provincial Police Headquarters in Łódź informed about the breakup of an organized criminal group.

– The matter began in May 2022, when police officers dealing with combating corruption at the KWP in Łódź, implementing their own findings, led to a total of 130 allegations of 10 charges from the area of ​​Piotrków Trybunalski and Bełchatów for testifying untruth in school documentation in the field of supposedly conducted exams – said the press officer.

At that time, policemen began extensive actions, which ultimately led to the breakdown of an organized criminal group.

Several hundred school ID cards, stamps and media

She added that in recent months policemen have carried out two actions in the Łódź, Lower Silesian, Silesian and Mazowieckie voivodships. They searched a dozen or so places in total and secured, among others, several hundred school ID cards, certificates of studying at school, stamps of educational institutions and school heads, several mobile phones, electronic devices, media, ATM cards, which will now be subject to thorough analysis.

– On April 4, 2025, policemen from the Department for the Fight of KWP corruption in Łódź during one of the projects in Piotrków Trybunalski also liquidated the printing house of false school IDs and certificates. At that time, about two thousand blank ID to be printed and over 100 pieces of ready IDs printed with details of foreigners. In addition, over 188 thousand zlotys and 14,000 euros were secured during searches, which were secured against future penalties and fines – said Edyta Machnik.

10 people heard the allegations

In total, 10 people aged 21 to 47 were detained for the case.

– Seven of them are brokers who systematically received from the person managing an organized criminal group of produced certificates and school IDs, being aware that they certify untruth – said the policewoman.

Three people heard allegations of participation in an organized criminal group, “aimed at preparing untruthful certificates of attendance at post -secondary schools and school IDs, in order to extort undue services from the Social Insurance Institution.”

By the court's decision, they were arrested for three months.

The remaining seven suspects prosecutor presented allegations of aid to extorting the exemption from paying contributions to ZUS for social security and health insurance through multiple sale of fake certificates of attending post -secondary schools and ID card for foreign nationality who did not continue their education.

There are punishable for these crimes from 8 to 15 years in prison.

The police emphasize that the matter is of a developmental nature.