The District Prosecutor’s Office in Poznań has charged four individuals in connection with a corruption scandal involving the issuance of alcohol sales permits. Among the accused are three officials from the municipal office led by Civic Platform politician Jacek Jaśkowiak, as well as a former police officer.
According to prosecutor Łukasz Wawrzyniak, the main suspect is a former police officer and driving instructor, facing the most extensive list of charges. These include bribery in exchange for expediting alcohol license procedures, encouraging false testimony, leveraging alleged influence within public institutions, and falsifying and destroying documents.
The detained city officials, all from the Department of Business Activities, are accused of accepting bribes and abusing their official powers. None of the suspects have admitted guilt. Reports also indicate that one of the accused officials had recently retired.
The Central Anti-Corruption Bureau conducted the arrests, and preventive measures have been imposed on all suspects, including bail, restrictions on mutual contact, and police supervision.
The case casts a shadow over the operations of Poznań’s city hall and its licensing system for alcohol sales. The alleged crimes carry a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison.