“If this had happened in a normal country, if a politician were accused by so many people, he would have to disappear from the face of the earth. In this case, the political cover he enjoys allows him to continue functioning in political life. Perhaps Grodzki has been assured that the matter will fade away…” said editor Tomasz Sakiewicz after leaving the courtroom.
The District Court for Warsaw-Wola was expected to rule on the case of Tomasz Grodzki versus Tomasz Sakiewicz. However, the judge asked journalists and the audience to leave the room, informing them that no verdict would be issued today due to the emergence of new evidence in the case.
Later, it was announced that the verdict would be delivered on Wednesday, October 29, at 10:30 a.m.
After leaving the courtroom, Tomasz Sakiewicz spoke to the media. As the trial is still ongoing, he did not reveal details.
“There are new circumstances. It’s like this: if everything in this case were to be investigated, it would take several generations. I have never seen, in history, such a large-scale bribery scandal. For hundreds of people to come forward saying they were forced to pay bribes – that has never happened in the history of democratic states. If this had happened in a normal country, if a politician were accused by so many people, he would have to disappear from the face of the earth. In this case, the political cover he enjoys allows him to continue functioning in political life. Perhaps Grodzki has been assured that the matter will fade away. But because we are here, it cannot fade away,” said the editor-in-chief of Gazeta Polska.
As he continued, “They expected one thing, on the principle of: we won’t let you go to prison, even though you’ve done terrible things, but the matter must be silenced because it’s sinking the Civic Platform.”
“This case differs from other corruption cases in that it affects ordinary people. It shows that an ordinary person can be wronged. Someone poor, someone in a difficult situation, someone without protection. Everyone can imagine finding themselves in such a position. And that’s what harms the Civic Platform. This case isn’t winding down – it’s gaining momentum. And moreover, it will probably sink not only Tomasz Grodzki, but the entire Civic Platform,” added editor Sakiewicz.
He then thanked the Gazeta Polska Club members for coming to the court.