A Polish court on Friday, April 10th, convicted former Kielce President Wojciech Lubawski for abuse of power related to a 2015 trip to China.
Conviction Details
The court found Wojciech Lubawski guilty of exceeding his authority by authorizing a cultural and economic mission to China and awarding a contract without fulfilling legal requirements. The total cost of the trip was nearly 160,000 złoty.
Judge Agnieszka Treszczotko stated the trip lacked a genuine economic purpose.
Selection of Participants
The selection of participants for the trip was based on social connections rather than the needs of the city. Lubawski provided a handwritten list of individuals with whom he had personal relationships.
The trip was organized without a recruitment process or defined roles for participants, and included time for sightseeing and personal activities.
Financial Irregularities
The court determined that Lubawski understated the costs for individuals outside of the office and did not pay for his own or his colleagues’ participation.
Lubawski’s Defense
Wojciech Lubawski maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings and has announced his intention to appeal the verdict. He argued that the trip involved hard work and that including sightseeing, like visiting the Great Wall of China, was standard practice when hosting guests.
Lubawski’s Political Career
Wojciech Lubawski served as the President of Kielce from 2002 to 2018, losing the election to Bogdan Wenta. He later headed the Busko-Zdrój Spa, from which he was dismissed in early 2021.