Ex-Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Charged in Cash-for-Visas Scandal

A former deputy foreign minister in Polands previous government has been charged in connection with the alleged sale of visas and work permits to migrants. The scandal emerged last summer and contributed to the ruling partys defeat in October elections.

A former deputy foreign minister in Poland's previous right-wing government appeared before prosecutors on Wednesday to face charges related to the alleged sale of visas and work permits to migrants for thousands of dollars, according to anti-corruption officials.

Cash-for-Visas Scandal

The cash-for-visas scandal emerged last summer and significantly undermined the tough-on-immigration stance of the ruling Law and Justice party, which subsequently lost power in the October parliamentary elections. An investigation into the matter was initiated earlier last year.

Detention and Charges

The Central Anti-Corruption Bureau announced in a statement on Wednesday that it had detained the former deputy foreign minister, who was responsible for consular affairs and is identified only as Piotr W. due to Polish privacy laws. He was brought to the city of Lubin, where prosecutors presented him with charges of exceeding his authority in handling ministry documents, influencing the issuance of Polish visas, and sharing classified information with an unauthorized individual during the period of 2022-23.

Potential Sentence and Defendant's Response

If found guilty in a court trial, the defendant could face up to 10 years in prison. The national prosecutors office later revealed that the defendant asserted his innocence and declined to provide testimony. Despite the charges, he was released on bail.

Additional Accusations and Media Reports

The anti-corruption office stated that eight other individuals have also been charged in connection with the case. In August, Polish media outlets reported allegations that Poland's consular sections had issued approximately 250,000 visas to migrants from Asia and Africa since 2021 in exchange for bribes. At the time, the deputy foreign minister was dismissed from his position, and the media linked him to the scandal. However, he has consistently denied any involvement in any wrongdoing.