Diplomatic passports have been controversial in Polish politics for years, but fresh events with the participation of Marcin Romanowski, erstwhile Deputy Minister of Justice, have given the substance a full fresh dimension. Here are the details of this loud scandal.
Diplomatic passport in MFA deposit
Radosław Sikorski, erstwhile abroad Minister, referred to the issue of Romanowski's diplomatic passport on platform X. He wrote:
"I kindly inform you that a martyr's diplomatic passport from embezzlement of public money for victims of crime is in the Ministry of abroad Affairs deposit".
Diplomatic passport is simply a paper which includes persons who have crucial functions in global organisations. In itself, it does not give privileges, but it serves to legitimize on business trips. In the current situation, however, it is becoming a symbolic component of the case concerning allegations against the erstwhile Deputy Minister.
I kindly inform you that the diplomatic passport of a martyr from embezzlement of public money intended for victims of crime is on deposit @MSZ_RP.
— Radosław Sikorski (@sikorskiradek) December 14, 2024
A BOLO for Marcin Romanowski
On Thursday, the National Prosecutor's Office announced the issuing of a BOLO for Marcin Romanowski. According to PK spokesperson Przemysław Nowak, the decision was made after the court decided to apply three-month detention to Romanowski. The erstwhile Deputy Minister has ceased to be available, and since 6 December his phones have been disabled and they do not log on to the network.
There was speculation in the media that Romanowski might have fled abroad. The prosecutors point out that for now there is no evidence that he left Poland. The PK spokesperson confirmed:
"We know that he did not buy tickets, did not fly out of Poland, did not cross the Schengen border".
Charges for erstwhile Deputy Minister
Romanowski is suspected of committing 11 crimes, including participation in an organized crime group and setting competitions for multimillion grants from the Justice Fund. The allegations besides include the misappropriation of over PLN 107 million in full and the attempted misappropriation of another PLN 58 million. He's facing 25 years in prison.
According to “Rzeczpospolita”, officers of the elite Department of Search and recognition of Persons of the Capital Police Command, known for tracking the most dangerous criminals, were active in the search for Romanowski.
Political affair and its consequences
Romanowski's case casts a shadow on the full Polish political class. The erstwhile Deputy Minister, despite serious charges, does not plead guilty, which adds emotion to the full situation. His absence makes it more hard to explain the case, and suggestions about a possible escape origin a wave of criticism about law enforcement.
Will the justice strategy pass the test?
For this moment, it is hard to foretell how the case of Marcin Romanowski will end. However, his destiny is closely linked to the image of the Polish legal strategy and the institution's ability to solve specified crises.
We'll keep track of developments.
Continued here:
Sikorski: The diplomatic passport of the “marriage from embezzlement” is in the deposit of the MFA
