"Agent Tomek" charged and arrested by anti-corruption bureau

In mid-November 2019, Tomasz Kaczmarek was charged, among other things, with operating within an organised crime group, fraud, embezzlement and money laundering.

The investigators decided not to place him under arrest at that time, but banned him from leaving the country and ordered to pay 500.000-zlotys bail. The court upheld the bail despite complaint.

"On Wednesday, Kaczmarek heard 9 new charges pertaining to money laundering. Combined with those from November, the suspect now faces 15 charges in total" - Paweł Sawoń from the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Białystok informed.

"My client pleaded not guilty, gave a detailed statement, and answered all questions asked by the prosecutors. We are waiting for further decisions" - said the

TVN24 also learned the prosecutors has asked the court to place the formed CBA agent arrest. The decision is expected to be made on Thursday morning.

The main line of inquiry, that has been run since 2016, pertains to embezzlement of funds used for running senior care homes in Warmia and Masuria between 2011 and 2017. They had been managed by Helper association from Olsztyn, which had been using government subsidies.

According to the investigation findings, part of that money is said to have been defrauded of misallocated.

So far, over 40 people have been charged, including 6 local politicians (former and current) from Olsztyn, Reszel, Jedwabne and Purda. In theie case the charges pertain to dereliction of duty and causing losses for local governments, by signing contracts with Helper to adapt local buildings and establish community self-help centres.

Dereliction of duty was to be manifested through mismanagement of finances of the local government units, and lack of supervision over the progress of the task Helper had been entrusted with.