“Let’s support the innocent victims of Tusk’s rule. People destroyed by a prime minister who, in the name of personal revenge, tramples on law and human dignity”, urged former Minister of Justice Zbigniew Ziobro on social media. Today the trial of Fr. Michał Olszewski and two former officials of the Ministry of Justice begins.
On Wednesday at 10 a.m., the trial concerning alleged abuses related to the management of the Justice Fund will start before the District Court in Warsaw. Six people will sit in the dock, including Fr. Michał Olszewski and the two former ministry officials. The indictment in this case was filed by Investigative Team No. 2 of the National Prosecutor’s Office at the beginning of February.
The charges primarily concern alleged irregularities in the 2020 grant awarded to the Profeto Foundation, intended for the construction of the Archipelago center for victims of crime.
Investigators accuse the defendants of committing so-called official crimes, as well as providing false statements to misappropriate property of significant value. Fr. Olszewski and the two officials – Urszula and Karolina – also face the absurd charge of participating in an organized criminal group, and the clergyman has additionally been accused of money laundering.
In his latest post on platform X, Zbigniew Ziobro, former Minister of Justice, called for support for “the innocent victims of Tusk’s rule”, people destroyed by a prime minister who, in the name of personal revenge, tramples on law and human dignity. Fr. Michał Olszewski, founder of the aid center for victims of violence Archipelago – Islands Free from Violence, and the two officials – including the mother of a sick child – were deprived of health and freedom solely because they helped others. The Ombudsman appointed by Polish People’s Party confirmed that the law had been violated and that the detainees were treated inhumanely. The court directly called the current government a crypto-dictatorship, he wrote.
Ziobro emphasized that the trial will begin “before a carefully selected panel of judges whose task is to carry out the political order of the authorities”. He also called out: Do not remain silent. Let’s show solidarity with the victims! Let’s support them together!
TV Republika, as well as the portal Niezalezna.pl, which will provide ongoing coverage of the trial, encourage everyone to attend in the courtroom and outside the court during the proceedings.
The trial will be public. According to the Code of Criminal Procedure (Art. 356 par. 1), “in addition to persons participating in the proceedings, only adults who are unarmed may be present in the courtroom.” Even if the hearing is closed to the public, a small audience may still be allowed. Attendance at a public hearing does not require prior permission; it is sufficient to arrive with an ID card. In the event of a closed hearing, the presiding judge may allow certain individuals to be present.