The territory Prosecutor's Office in Świdnica initiated an investigation into the “Mieszko” Foundation. Investigators are looking at the controversial takeover of this tiny organization by individuals closely associated with Robert Bąkiewicz. The main focus is the mechanics for collecting income taxation credits of 1.5%, which, as the press reports suggest, may have been utilized in a way incompatible with the foundation's first purpose.
This situation raises serious questions about transparency and ethics in public benefit organisations (OPPs). As a reader, you have the right to know precisely what happened and what the consequences may be for donors and the future of the Fund.
How did the Mieszko Foundation end up targeting the D.A.'s office?
The past of the “Miesko” Foundation from Świdnica for years has been an example of local charity activity. Founded and led by Iwona Woźniak with his boy Bartosz, she focused on supporting children from children's homes and patients of the “Latawiec” hospital. The key thing is that for more than a decade the foundation had the position of a public benefit organisation (OPP), which entitles it to rise money from the write-offs of 1.5% of individual income tax.
The situation changed in early 2023. Due to her health, Iwona Wozniak decided not to proceed moving the foundation. People associated with Robert Bąkiewicz entered the game. According to the findings of the journalists Oko Press and “Electoral”, the foundation was not sold. Iwona Wozniak, in an interview with “Electoral”, stressed that she wanted to proceed the activity of “The Town” which she treated as “her child”. It was this desire to guarantee continuity that opened the door for fresh people to take control of the organization.
Who are the fresh administrators and how do they relate to Robert Bąkiewicz?
Since January this year, Dominik Dzierżanowski has been the president of the “Miesko” Foundation. His name is well known in the national environment – he is simply a close associate of Robert Bąkiewicz, active in the structures of the independency March, helping to build the National defender and late active in the Border Defence Movement. Furthermore, Dzierżanowski is besides the organizer of online collections for the court cases of Robert Bąkiewicz.
The board of the “Mieszko” Foundation besides included Dzierżanowski's wife, Izabela Komorowska-Dzierżanowska, besides associated with another foundations of Bąkiewicz's people. In practice, this means that the full structure managing the “Miesko” Foundation has been cast by people from the ellipse close to the leader of national environments. It was this fact that raised suspicion, especially in the context of the anticipation of raising funds from 1.5% of the tax.
Why is that so important? another foundations and associations straight related to Robert Bąkiewicz – specified as the independency March Association or the Rota March of independency – do not have the position of a public benefit organisation (OPP). This means that they cannot accept write-offs of 1.5% of income tax. According to media reports, the number of the KRS of the Foundation "Miesko" began to be utilized in appeals for the transfer of this percent of taxation to Rot March of independency and the Border Defence Movement. It's a key component the D.A.'s office is paying attention to.
What precisely is the prosecution’s conduct?
Mariusz Pinder, a press spokesperson for the territory Attorney's Office in Świdnica, confirmed the initiation of the investigation. As he said, “Election”, it means “a suspicion of misleading the donors of the “Miesko” Foundation. Investigators carefully examine whether the money collected under the 1.5% taxation write-offs was collected and spent in accordance with the legal provisions and, most importantly, according to the Statute of the "Miesko" Foundation.
It is worth noting that at this phase the procedure is of a verifiable nature. This means that the prosecution collects and analyses available information to measure whether there are grounds for a formal investigation. This does not prejudge the imposition of charges, but points to serious doubts as to the legality and transparency of the activities of the fresh Foundation authorities.
What does this mean for donors and the future of the Mieszko Foundation?
For those who, in good faith, have transferred 1.5% of their taxation to the Fund, this situation may be worrying. If the prosecution's allegations prove to be correct, this means that their money could have gone to an organization that they did not intend to support, or to targets that did not conform to the first assumptions of the Fund. In practice, this undermines public confidence, which is the foundation of the functioning of the public benefit organisation.
The future of the Fund is presently uncertain. The result of the prosecution's proceedings may have far-reaching consequences, including the failure of OPP status, which would prevent it from further obtaining funds from taxation write-offs. This event is an crucial reminder of the request to verify the organisation to which we are transferring our resources and the function of law enforcement in ensuring transparency in the non-governmental sector.
Read more:
The prosecution is investigating the Mieszko Foundation. Did 1.5% of the taxation go to Bąkiewicz's people?
