The trial of former MEP R. Czarnecki regarding mileage has started

On Wednesday, the trial of former PiS MEP Ryszard Czarnecki began in the District Court in Warsaw. This is about the so-called kilometers. According to the prosecutor's office, the politician allegedly led the European Parliament to an unfavorable disposal of property in the amount of approximately PLN 203,000. euro.

The indictment in this case was sent to the Warsaw court by the District Prosecutor's Office in Zamość in December 2024. The trial started on Wednesday.

However, before judge Piotr Gąciarek opened the court proceedings for defense lawyer Ryszard Czarnecki (there is consent to publish his name – PAP), pointing out, among others, Due to the inconsistency of the content of the indictment with the information received from the European Parliament before its submission, the defense lawyers requested that the indictment be returned to the prosecutor's office for supplementation. The court did not agree to this request.

Following the media's requests, the judge stipulated that until the verdict was issued, it would not be permissible to directly quote the content of the accused's explanations. The court also referred its decision to the witnesses. The point is not to be influenced by testimonies. Then the trial started and prosecutor Artur Szykuła read the indictment.

Ryszard Czarnecki, who was present in the courtroom, did not plead guilty to the charges against him. He emphasized, among other things, that he had not acted with the intention of misleading or defrauding the European Parliament and that the subject of these proceedings was a long-closed case. He repeatedly indicated that all the funds expected from him by the European Parliament had been provided by him and that the entity whose interest was to be protected did not question this settlement.

The politician also emphasized, among other things, that he did not break the law or internal regulations of the institution, and the discrepancies in the documents were the result of errors. He also pointed out that for the prosecutor's office and the current government, even though the case is closed, it is one of the priority cases.

Then witnesses testified, among others: former politician's assistant.

The indictment shows that Ryszard Czarnecki provided false information regarding his place of residence in Poland in the documents prepared and signed by him.

The prosecutor's office reported that he subsequently submitted 243 applications for reimbursement of travel expenses, in which – as was found – he provided untruths regarding business trips, including the vehicles he was supposed to use and the number of kilometers traveled.

According to investigators, this resulted in him receiving undue payment of money related to the performance of his duties as an MEP. According to the prosecutor's office, in the years 2009-2013 the policy was to lead the European Parliament to unfavorable disposal of property in the total amount of approximately PLN 203,000. euro.

The prosecutor's office reported that the total value of the damage was PLN 854,000. PLN, and at the same time, the findings show that the suspect has so far returned the amount of PLN 104.5 thousand to the injured institution. euro (PLN 439.6 thousand).

In turn, Ryszard Czarnecki informed that the European Parliament had submitted its position to the prosecutor's office in writing, emphasizing that he had returned all the funds a long time ago. The politician's account also showed that the European Parliament had no claims against him and that he did not uphold the amount mentioned by the prosecutor's office.

Since 2004, Ryszard Czarnecki has been a Member of the European Parliament, and in 2014-2018 he served as Vice-President of the European Parliament. In February 2024, the District Prosecutor's Office in Zamość requested to waive his immunity due to reasonable suspicion of committing a crime. He was not elected to the European Parliament for another term in the elections, so his immunity no longer protected him.

The prosecutor's office initiated an investigation into the unfavorable disposal of property after being notified by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).

The accused is punishable by up to 15 years in prison for the alleged act.

The court set the next hearing date for January 9. (PAP)

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