“Today, the closing arguments were presented. The verdict is expected on Thursday – I’m facing three years in prison for calling Tomasz Grodzki a common bribe-taker,” said Tomasz Sakiewicz on air at TV Republika. Grodzki accuses the editor-in-chief of Gazeta Polska of defamation and insult (Articles 212 and 216 of the Penal Code). The case concerns corruption allegations at a hospital in Szczecin where Grodzki worked as a surgeon. The trial is being held behind closed doors.
“The main point of the indictment concerns what I said on TV Republika. He got upset when I called him ‘a common bribe-taker,’” said Tomasz Sakiewicz on TV Republika.
The editor-in-chief of Gazeta Polska reported that the closing arguments took place today, and the verdict is expected on Thursday.“I’m facing three years in prison,” he added.
Sakiewicz recounted, “Mr. Tomasz Grodzki did not appear in court. His attorney, Mr. Dubois, was present, along with his legal representative. Mr. Dubois is the same lawyer who took part in the case of the late Barbara Skrzypek (Mrs. Barbara suffered a heart attack and died after being questioned by the prosecutor’s office).”
He continued, “Mr. Tomasz Grodzki is quite a remarkable figure. Let me remind you that over 200 witnesses testified in the indictment against him. Many witnesses also appeared at my hearing. I can’t speak about the details, as our camera was asked to leave at Mr. Grodzki’s attorney’s request. It is forbidden to show what is happening,” he said.
In July of this year, it was reported that the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Szczecin discontinued the investigation concerning Tomasz Grodzki. The case involved a corruption scandal at the Szczecin hospital that allegedly took place when the current Civic Platform (PO) senator was the hospital’s director. The affair concerned payments from patients in need of urgent surgery. The scheme was exposed by Gazeta Polska journalist Tomasz Duklanowski, who so far remains the only person convicted in connection with the case – Grodzki accused him of defamation.