Deputy Minister of Justice, Bartłomiej Ciażyński, was at the centre of attention after media reports that he utilized a service car and fuel card during a private vacation journey to Slovenia. According to information provided by Virtual Poland, Ciążyński first defended his actions, claiming that he had the right to usage the car for private purposes and that he paid for the fuel from his own resources. However, he shortly admitted to the mistake and committed to returning the funds.
Conduct of events
Bartłomiej Ciażyński, a politician associated with Lewica, erstwhile Vice president of Wrocław, took the position of Deputy Minister of Justice in July 2024. Earlier in May of the same year, he was employed at the Polish Centre for Technology improvement (PORT), where he was awarded a service car and fuel card. In the beginning of July, Ciążyński applied for a vacation leave for the period from 15 to 31 July, which was later extended for free leave until December 2027.
According to Virtual Poland's findings, on the night of 12th to 13th July Ciążyński fueled more than 60 liters of fuel at Orlen station in Łagiewniki close Wrocław, utilizing the service fuel card. erstwhile again, he utilized a fuel card an hr later at the station in Międzylesie, where he fueled a tiny amount of fuel and bought the spray liquid.
‘From the station in Łagiewniki to the station in Międzylesiu is 84.5 km. The journey at night, according to Google Maps, should take about an hr and 10 minutes. That is, as much as it took Ciążyński" - emphasizes Virtual Poland. As the portal adds, the station in Międzylesie is close to the border with Che and suggests that the politician intended to proceed his journey abroad.
A day later, on 13 July, Ciążyński published a photograph on social media from over the Slovenian Lake Bled, marked with the hashtag "#vacations". The way from Wrocław to Lake Bled takes about 8 hours, indicating that the politician arrived on the same day.
Reactions and explanations
In an interview with journalists of Virtual Poland, the Deputy Minister initially defended his action. He claimed that he had the right to usage his business car for private purposes as well, and that he paid for the fuel that was fueled in Poland from his own resources.
"I had the right to refuel this car in Poland, besides for specified service. That's how I was informed erstwhile I received it. I had unlimited access to its usage without the limit of kilometres, besides outside Poland, but of course outside the borders I fueled for my own resources" - explained Ciążyński.
Shortly after these explanations, the Deputy Minister issued a message in which he admitted that he had utilized a service car during a private journey to Slovenia. "I was convinced that I had the right to usage the car for private purposes. I returned the amounts for fuel utilized for private purposes to my employer's account. I apologize for the situation," wrote Ciążyński.
Consequences and follow-up
The admission of mistake by the Deputy Minister did not end the controversy. In the Wrocław Polish Centre for Technology Development, where Ciążyński worked before taking office in the Ministry, the unauthorised usage of the service card and the business car by the politician was detected. As a consequence of this incident, the manager of PORT, prof. Alicja Bachmatiuk, was dismissed from her post in late July 2024. The authoritative reason for its appeal was that PORT ‘inadequately performs its statutory tasks’ during its management period.
Summary
The case of Bartłomiej Ciążyński is another example of how the usage of public funds for private purposes can lead to serious consequences. Although the politician admitted his mistake and committed to returning the money, the controversy surrounding his vacation journey would likely have a long-term impact on his political career and the functioning of the institutions with which he was associated.
More here:
Fuel to be filled at the taxpayer's expense. This is how the Deputy Minister of Justice sponsored his vacation in Slovenia
