“TV Republika is known for its propaganda. And this shows what hypocrisy this is,” said Civic Coalition MP Katarzyna Kierzek-Koperska when commenting on information about the rape of a young policewoman. Like the rest of the governing coalition, she defended the head of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration (MSWiA), Marcin Kierwiński, on TVP Info (in liquidation).
On Wednesday, TV Republika revealed that the District Court in Piaseczno had ordered three months of pre-trial detention for one of the supervisors of the Warsaw police’s prevention units. He was charged with raping a young policewoman and forcing her to submit to another sexual act. The information was confirmed to TV Republika journalists by the spokesperson for the District Prosecutor’s Office in Warsaw, prosecutor Piotr Antoni Skiba. The scandal was said to have occurred during an alcohol-fueled drinking party at a company gathering.
As public opinion began to focus on the case, resignations followed. On Thursday, a decision was made within the Warsaw police to dismiss the deputy commander of the Police Prevention Unit in Warsaw. Sub-Inspector Mariusz Kolasiński was reportedly dismissed. The police officer suspected of rape was his subordinate.
On the same day, the Warsaw police announced another decision related to the scandal. Proceedings were launched to remove from his post the platoon commander from the IX Company of the Police Prevention Unit in Warsaw. He was said to have taken part in a “meeting combined with the consumption of alcohol”.
Nevertheless, the ruling camp is seizing on various ways to defend the head of the MSWiA, Marcin Kierwiński. Yesterday, shortly after the start of the Sejm session, the minister took the floor and attacked the opposition. He also assured that the police response had been immediate, taking several hours.
“I decided to speak out because I can no longer listen to how you behave – you hyenas from Law and Justice (PiS). You are hyenas. You are doing disgusting politicking on the suffering of this woman. To be clear, in this case the reaction of the Polish police was immediate. Within 12 hours, this guy was taken into custody and is behind bars. He was suspended from his duties. A process has been initiated to expel this man from the Polish police. Because there is no place in it for people who commit such disgusting acts. And this is what differentiates us from you – that we react in such cases. Firmly and immediately. We do not cover anything up – as you used to do. In this case, three inspection proceedings have been launched – additionally,” said Kierwiński.
Other media outlets have also picked up on Republic’s findings, including those sympathetic to the governing team. On TVP Info (in liquidation), Katarzyna Kierzek-Koperska (Civic Coalition) attacked the Free Speech House broadcaster for exposing the scandal.
“TV Republika is known for its propaganda. And this shows what hypocrisy this is. We are dealing with a rape victim. And I don’t know what you imagined. That on January 3 or 4 the minister would come out and shout to everyone around: we have a rape victim? After all, the peace of this woman must be respected. Today she is recovering, she is under the care of a psychologist. And that is the most important thing in all of this. You are practicing politics on suffering. This is scandalous,” the MP stated.