Red is Bad brand founder Paweł S. to remain in custody

This decision was confirmed by prosecutor Sebastian Głuch and defense attorney Adam Klepczyński.

The Katowice Regional Court reviewed the defense's appeal against the most severe preventive measure but rejected it, upholding the decision of the lower court. In early November, the district court had ordered that Paweł S. remain in custody until January 28.

Paweł S. had been wanted with a Interpol Red Notice notice since October 10, following the issuance of a warrant and a European Arrest Warrant (EAW). He was deported from the Dominican Republic at the end of October, where he had been detained days earlier.

Upon his return, he was taken to the Silesian branch of the National Prosecutor’s Office in Katowice, where he faced charges of participating in an organized criminal group, aiding and abetting public officials from RARS in exceeding their authority, and money laundering. He was questioned over several days.

The prosecutor’s office has not disclosed how Paweł S. responded to the charges - whether he admitted guilt or denied the allegations - only stating that he provided testimony.

The investigation into irregularities at the Government Strategic Reserves Agency, initiated on December 1, 2023, concerns, among other things, the abuse of authority and neglect of duties by RARS employees during the organization and implementation of goods purchases, thereby acting to the detriment of public interest from February 23, 2021, to November 27, 2023, in Warsaw, with the aim of obtaining financial benefits.

The prosecutor has charged five individuals so far. The charges involve participation in an organized crime group, abuse of authority by public officials, and, in the case of one suspect, money laundering.

In addition to S., former RARS president Michał K. is also suspected in the investigation. The prosecutor accuses him of participating in an organized crime group, as well as abuse of authority and neglect of duties for the purpose of obtaining financial benefits. He faces a potential sentence of 10 years in prison.