Attorney Krzysztof Wąsowski — could he be headed for prison? It’s not out of the question. A month after being charged in a case in which he is serving as a defense lawyer, he received a letter from prosecutors imposing preventive measures, including a 50,000 zł bail. Wąsowski says he won’t pay.
“In the end, I can only say that the right to defense matters! And it matters enough that, as a defense lawyer, it’s worth going to jail for it,” he remarked.
Wąsowski, who represents clients facing charges in politically sensitive cases initiated by Prosecutor General Adam Bodnar’s office, has now himself been summoned as a suspect — in the very same case where he defends three other accused individuals.
On social media platform X, Wąsowski recalled that on July 8, “Prosecutor Karol Zok presented me with a charge directly connected to my defense activities.”
He stressed that “on that day, no other ruling was announced to me — in particular, none regarding so-called preventive measures, such as bail, police supervision, or a no-contact order.”
Just two days later, the prosecutor’s office issued a statement confirming that he still remained counsel for the accused.
But a new twist emerged on August 13.
“Yesterday, August 13 — over a month after charges were brought against me — my law office received a ruling dated July 8 imposing non-custodial preventive measures: a 50,000 PLN bail, police supervision, and a ban on contact with my former client Paweł S.,” Wąsowski wrote.
The attorney sees the move as a clear attempt to hinder his defense work.
“I consider Prosecutor Karol Zok’s actions an effort to obstruct the defense of my clients in the same proceedings. I will, of course, appeal,” he announced.
He added that he will not pay the bail, regardless of the consequences — a stance that could prompt prosecutors to request his pre-trial detention.
“In my career, I’ve never been arrested, nor have I had to represent my clients from behind bars — but there’s always a first time,” he noted with irony.
Wąsowski also expressed hope that before any potential detention, his most recent jailed client, the seriously ill Dominik B., would be freed to receive medical care.
The legal community has reacted with outrage.
“It’s beyond a lawyer’s comprehension — police supervision and high bail against a defense counsel for carrying out defense duties! This is a glaring example of pressure and repression by the prosecution against a lawyer for performing his professional responsibilities,” said attorney Magdalena Majkowska.