Polish court delays decision on arrest of former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro, moving hearing to January 15, citing incomplete evidence.
Arrest hearing postponed
On 22 December the Warsaw‑Mokotów District Court was set to decide on the prosecutor’s request for arrest of former Justice Minister and Law and Justice MP Zbigniew Ziobro. The court instead postponed the hearing to 15 January, citing missing evidence supplied to the court.
Government remains optimistic
Polish ruling coalition officials say the delay does not alter the course of proceedings. KO MEP Michał Szczerba expressed hope for a January decision, while Senator Monika Piotrówna accused the court of upholding the rule of law, noting that political emotions must not replace legal procedure.
Opposition and Law and Justice reaction
Left‑wing MP Tomasz Trela warned that the postponement could provoke harsher penalties, using social‑media posts to criticize the delay. Law and Justice MPs rejected the rationale as a failure of prosecutors and the government, with EU‑seat Waldemar Buda calling it a “political sabotage” and Paweł Jabłoński labeling it an “embarrassment to the prosecution.”
Allegations of documents concealment
The prosecution claims that withheld evidence affected the case. Several MPs, including Sebastian Kaleta, accused the prosecutor of hiding documents that proved Ziobro’s innocence, and former assistant Marcin Romanowski said the delay granted the ruling camp extra time.
Ziobro files complaint against Minister Zurek
Ziobro announced that he will file a complaint with the prosecutor’s office against Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek, accusing him of abuse of power related to the Justice Fund and harming affected parties.
