Warsaw court delays arrest hearing for former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobry until February 5 over defense claims of missing evidence and judge conflict.
Court Hearing on Ziobry’s Arrest
The Warsaw-Mokotów District Court’s hearing, held on January 15 at 10:00, addressed the National Prosecutor’s Office request to arrest Zbigniew Ziobry. The hearing was adjourned on December 22. Multiple breaks occurred at 10:20 and after 12:20 before the court postponed the session to February 5.
Ziobry’s defense lawyers claimed the postponement was due to lack of notification and withheld evidence. They filed appeals against the prosecutor’s rejection of their requests for access to case files, arguing proceedings cannot continue until these are resolved. All three defense lawyers also requested the presiding judge’s recusal due to her affiliation with judges’ association “Iustitia” and perceived political bias.
Dispute Over Documents
Defense lawyer Bartosz Lewandowski stated prosecutors denied access to exculpatory evidence. He claimed prosecutor Piotr Woźniak selectively presented materials, violating the right to defense. Woźniak countered that lawyer Adam Gomoła, representing another accused in a separate case, cannot use knowledge from that case here due to legal confidentiality requirements.
Woźniak explained the prosecutor’s request for arrest didn’t list classified materials. Gomoła reapplied for access to these materials but was denied, as they weren’t referenced in the initial arrest motion. The prosecution argued Gomoła’s situation was complicated by representing conflicting clients.
