However, Ocieczek testifies. A surprise at the Pegasus committee

Former deputy head of the CBA, Grzegorz Ocieczek, testified before the Pegasus commission on Wednesday, although he had previously failed to appear for hearings three times. The use of Pegasus by the CBA was explained by, among others, that the risk of using and using new technologies in connection with committing crimes increases.

During Wednesday's meeting of the committee, two witnesses are scheduled to be heard: former deputy head of the CBA, Grzegorz Ocieczek, and former head of the CBA, Andrzej Stróżny. Initially, there were many indications that the hearing would not take place, as both had not appeared at subsequent committee meetings since December last year. However, a moment before the closing of the meeting, Ocieczek appeared and expressed his willingness to testify.

During his free speech, Ocieczka referred to the ruling of the Constitutional Tribunal of September 2024 on the inconsistency of the resolution establishing the commission with the constitution. He explained his previous absences, among others: incorrect addressing of calls.

Ocieczek said, among others: that “the risk of using and using new technologies in connection with committing crimes is increasing.” He emphasized that the services should also have the same tools. – Lack of equipment for corruption services, lack of equipping law enforcement agencies with system capabilities, including, among others, operational systems, in an insufficient manner, or lack of use at all may result in the state failing to fulfill our obligations, he emphasized.

One of the questions during the committee meeting concerned the influence of Ocieczek on the operational control measures used in the CBA, e.g. Pegasus.

– I cannot talk about specific forms and devices that the CBA had at its disposal (…). I can quote several rulings of the Supreme Administrative Court and Provincial Administrative Courts regarding the fact that we do not share knowledge about the devices and operational control tools used or purchased, said the former deputy head of the CBA.

He was also asked about the background of the purchase of the Pegasus system, but he refused to provide details. When asked about the coordination of purchases within the CBA, he emphasized that it was based on the opinions of specialists. – Directors came to me and recommended the purchase of specific devices, providing relevant information on the need to purchase these devices, so I relied on the opinions of experts – said Ocieczek.

Referring to most of the questions, Ocieczek emphasized that he could not answer them because he testified in this context before the prosecutor's office. This interpretation of the regulations was challenged by Joanna Kluzik-Rostkowska (KO). – Being questioned as a witness in the prosecutor's office investigation does not waive the obligation to testify before the commission. Unless you found out about some circumstances regarding these proceedings while being interrogated during the investigation – noted the KO MP.

Her opinion was shared by experts working with the commission. However, it was decided to ask further questions during the secret part of the interrogation, which took place on the same day.

Grzegorz Ocieczek was first the head of the District Prosecutor's Office in Katowice, and in 2006-2007 he worked at the Internal Security Agency (ABW), where he was the Director of the Criminal Proceedings Department, and then the deputy head of this agency. In 2015, he was appointed deputy head of the CBA, while remaining a retired prosecutor. He held this position until 2020.

The Pegasus Commission of Inquiry is examining the legality, correctness and purposefulness of activities undertaken using this software, including: by the government, secret services and police from November 2015 to November 2023. The Commission is also to determine who was responsible for the purchase of Pegasus and similar tools for the Polish authorities. According to what has been reported so far, including: by the Supreme Audit Office, Pegasus information was purchased in autumn 2017 for the CBA, with the majority of funds (PLN 25 million) from the Justice Fund. (PAP)

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