Collusion in a tram tender in Silesia. The CBA detained four people

The Central Anticorruption Bureau detained four people in an investigation into tender collusion related to the modernization of tram infrastructure in the Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis, the Bureau announced on Monday. Tramwaje Śląskie declares cooperation in the proceedings.

– While cooperating with the services, we are waiting for their findings and further development of the case – Tramwaje Śląskie spokesman Robert Walczak told PAP.

As reported in Monday's information by the CBA, officers of this service are investigating tender collusion related to the modernization of tram infrastructure. They are supervised by the European Public Prosecutor's Office.

According to the CBA, on December 17 this year officers of the Katowice delegation, at the request of the European Prosecutor's Office, detained four people suspected of involvement in corruption and tender collusion. Approximately PLN 38,000 was secured. euro cash and a gold bar.

According to the CBA information, the investigation concerns the public procurement for the modernization of tram infrastructure in the Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis, financed by the European Union.

“Among the detainees is a person holding a public office. The findings of the investigation show that this person was supposed to provide confidential information to a preferred company in order to ensure that it won the contract. The suspect is also accused of committing corruption crimes,” the office reported.

The ongoing investigation aims to explain in detail all the circumstances of the case and determine the scope of responsibility of individual people. One of the suspects was arrested by court decision.

A spokesman for Tramwaje Śląskie informed PAP that the CBA asked the company to provide documentation related to the ongoing proceedings regarding the selection of the contract engineer.

– The procedure for selecting the contract engineer is not financed from EU funds. The project itself is financed from European funds, while the procedure for selecting the contract engineer is financed from the company's own funds, Walczak clarified.

Currently, Tramwaje Śląskie is implementing the project “Modernization and development of tram infrastructure in the Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis” co-financed by the European Funds for Infrastructure, Climate, Environment 2021-27 (FEnIKS) Program, with a value estimated at PLN 1.3 billion, with a subsidy of over PLN 735 million.

In the previous financial perspective, Tramwaje Śląskie carried out a similar project worth over a billion zlotys, co-financed by the Infrastructure and Environment Operational Program for 2014-2020. (PAP)

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