The Polish aspect of the Sławomir Nowak affair has been dismissed. The main trial is still ongoing.

The Warsaw-Mokotów District Court dismissed the case on Friday regarding the so-called "Polish element" of the Sławomir Nowak corruption scandal, TVN's "Fakty" reported. This occurred before the trial, citing the "obvious lack of basis for the accusation." The main trial, concerning alleged corruption in Ukraine, remains ongoing.

Sławomir Nowak, a former Minister of Transport in Donald Tusk's second government, left Polish politics after the affair of a watch not included in his asset declaration. Since 2016, he had headed the Ukrainian road agency. In 2021, prosecutors charged him with more than a dozen crimes, primarily corruption. The Ukrainian side also brought charges against him. In Poland, the charges included bribery for assistance in securing positions in state-owned companies.

Nowak's trial began last year and was divided into several strands. The so-called "Polish strand," concerning alleged bribery in exchange for lucrative positions at state-owned companies, was handled by the Warsaw-Mokotów District Court. Ultimately, the case was dismissed on Friday due to the "obvious lack of basis for the accusation." TVN's "Fakty" reported that the prosecutor joined the defense's motion to dismiss the case. The article discussing the case emphasized that the prosecutor handling the case changed after the change of government.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I confirm that at the first hearing, the District Court in Warsaw dismissed the proceedings against me due to 'an obvious lack of grounds.' I feel no triumphalism, but a bitter satisfaction that justice is slowly but surely coming. The justice system is rising from its knees. This is not the end of my war... I only regret those years and my ruined life..." wrote Sławomir Nowak on portal X.

Former Transport Minister Sławomir Nowak was charged with 17 criminal offenses in December 2021. In September 2023, the District Court in Warsaw held another organizational hearing on this extensive case.

As reported by the prosecutor's office at the time, Nowak, as head of the Ukrawtodor State Roads Service, allegedly demanded and accepted financial benefits and promises of such benefits, totaling over PLN 6.1 million. In return, he was to support certain entities in the awarding and implementation of public procurement contracts related to road repairs in Ukraine.

The former minister was also charged with money laundering, amounting to nearly PLN 8 million. The accusation also covers the period when Nowak served as head of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's political cabinet and as Minister of Transport and Maritime Economy. According to investigators, Nowak accepted at least PLN 320,000 in bribes in exchange for assistance in securing lucrative positions and contracts at state-owned companies. He is also accused of accepting PLN 760,000 in bribes for organizing a meeting between representatives of a development company and Gdańsk city authorities.

These two sets of charges were separated into separate trials in 2023. At that time, defense attorney Joanna Broniszewska told journalists that the decision to exclude some of the threads from the main case created the possibility of starting a trial in which there was no doubt that her client "would be acquitted." Nowak's main trial is still ongoing in a court in Warsaw. (PAP)

mt/ mhr/