Former MEP Karol Karski charged with corruption

Karski has been accused of corruption related to allegedly leveraging his influence within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to secure favorable opinions for the establishment of Collegium Humanum branches in Prague, Bratislava, and Andijan. Specifically, for the Slovak branch, the charges include influencing the positive evaluation of a pedagogy program.

Calów-Jaszewska stated in a press release that Karski allegedly committed these acts in exchange for financial benefits. These included payment by Paweł Cz. for a polling report worth 14,700 złotys and election billboards for the European Parliament campaign, valued at over 22,000 złotys.

Karol Karski is among five additional individuals charged in the investigation into irregularities at Collegium Humanum.

The charges also extend to Jacek Sutryk, the Mayor of Wrocław; Marian D., chairman of the supervisory board of Wrocław Airport; Michał J., vice-rector of Collegium Humanum; and Katarzyna J., Michał J.'s wife, who was responsible for student recruitment.

Prosecutor Katarzyna Calów-Jaszewska stated that preventive measures were imposed on Jacek Sutryk, Marian D., and Karol Karski. These included bail ranging from 50,000 to 200,000 złotys, police supervision, and a prohibition on contacting certain individuals.

"In contrast, the prosecutor has filed motions for pre-trial detention against Katarzyna J. and Michał J.," she added.

The Collegium Humanum scandal erupted in March 2023, when the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA) detained two individuals under suspicion of accepting financial and personal benefits. The case involved the sale of diplomas by this private higher education institution.

Collegium Humanum was established in 2018 in Warsaw. According to media reports, it offered accelerated courses that allowed participants to obtain an MBA diploma. Such diplomas facilitated the application for positions on supervisory boards of state-owned companies.

The credibility of the diplomas issued by Collegium Humanum was purportedly backed by foreign universities. However, it was later revealed that these institutions lacked the authority to conduct MBA programs.

Among the graduates of Collegium Humanum were politicians, CEOs, members of supervisory boards of state-owned companies, intelligence officers, and military commanders.