On Thursday, a verdict will be delivered in the criminal case brought by Tomasz Grodzki against Tomasz Sakiewicz for calling him “a common bribe-taker.” The TV Republika president faces up to two years in prison. “Under the rule of the December 13 coalition, we are witnessing intimidation for telling the truth and calling things by their name, referring to what Senate Speaker Tomasz Grodzki did,” said Anna Milczanowska, Law and Justice (PiS) MP, during the program Polityczna kawa.
Tomasz Grodzki accuses the editor-in-chief of Gazeta Polska of defamation and insult (Articles 212 and 216 of the Penal Code). The case relates to corruption allegations at a Szczecin hospital, where Grodzki worked as a surgeon. The proceedings are being held behind closed doors, and the verdict is expected on Thursday.
Sakiewicz discussed the matter in his program Polityczna kawa (Political coffee) on TV Republika:
“On Thursday at 10:30, the verdict will be announced in the trial brought against me by Marshal Grodzki because I called him a common bribe-taker. Dozens of witnesses have confirmed this before the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA) and in other court cases. The Marshal is prosecuting me under an article that carries up to two years in prison,” reminded the TV Republika president.
Urszula Pasławska, Polish People’s Party (PSL) MP, commented that “the authorities should perform their duties, but politicians should not interfere with any procedure related to court processes, regardless of the parliamentary term.”
“The courts should be independent, and judgments should remain impartial. That is the essence of the justice system,” she stated.
Sakiewicz reminded her that “the problem is that even in the coalition agreement, there are provisions concerning political settlements.”
“Lex Żurek is precisely about politically and illegally appointed court presidents not applying the random assignment of judges, which violates the law. They’ll imprison me by breaking the law,” he emphasized.
Pasławska replied that “the justice system requires major reform.”
“They’ll put me in prison with the help of a court president who illegally holds his office, will illegally appoint judges, and on the request of a man whose investigation was suppressed, even though dozens of his colleagues are still on trial for a corruption network that, according to the prosecutor’s office, he himself created. And Prime Minister Tusk says nothing bad is happening to anyone,” underlined Sakiewicz.
Law and Justice (PiS) MP Anna Milczanowska stated that “what is happening now could have come straight out of the communist era.”
“We are entering that stage. Under the rule of the December 13 coalition, there is intimidation for telling the truth and calling things by their name, referring to what Senate Speaker Tomasz Grodzki did. You face two years in prison. TV Republika tells the truth, and we should listen to that truth,” she declared.