Former deputy head of the Civic Platform party, Janusz Palikot, will remain in temporary custody for the next two months, following a court ruling that upheld his detention. Palikot, along with business associates Przemysław B. and Zbigniew B., faces charges of fraud worth approximately 70 million PLN, allegedly involving thousands of victims through dubious crowdfunding ventures.
Palikot and his associates were detained in early October by Poland’s Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA) and transported to Wrocław for questioning, where they were formally charged. Prosecutors claim the businessmen deceived investors in various loan-based crowdfunding schemes linked to companies in Poland and Cyprus.
In response to the defense’s appeal against his detention, the court cited “high probability” of crime and raised concerns that Palikot might interfere with the investigation or flee, given his extensive international connections. Defense attorney Jacek Dubois criticized the court’s decision as excessive, arguing that pre-trial detention should be a last resort, rather than standard practice.
“The court’s rationale appears to be based on fictional fears,” Dubois argued, questioning the legitimacy of detention without concrete evidence of potential interference.
However, Judge Marek Poteralski, spokesperson for the Wrocław District Court, emphasized that the serious nature of the allegations and Palikot’s extensive network justified the court’s concerns. The judge concluded that temporary custody was the only viable measure to ensure the integrity of the ongoing investigation.