Polish prosecutors have indicted 26 individuals, including a former spa director, on 78 charges related to corruption and fraudulent academic credentials.
Allegations of Extensive Corruption
The indictment alleges a total of 78 crimes, including corruption, property offenses, document forgery, and obstruction of justice. Those charged include managers and employees of Uzdrowisko Rymanów S.A., medical professionals, students, and a notary.
Some of the 26 defendants have confessed and requested voluntary sentencing. The charges carry a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years.
MBA Degree Fraud at the Center of the Case
Iwona O., the former president of Uzdrowisko Rymanów S.A., is among those accused. Prosecutors allege she encouraged another individual to bribe Zbigniew D. with at least 10,000 złoty in exchange for a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree certificate without completing the coursework.
Iwona O. is also accused of soliciting others to falsify documentation regarding the completion of student internships for Karol O., Filip J., Bartosz C., Paweł B., and Łukasz N., enabling them to pass stages of their studies despite not completing the required practical work.
Bribery Allegations at Uzdrowisko Rymanów
The indictment also includes allegations unrelated to Collegium Humanum, concerning the operations of Uzdrowisko Rymanów. Investigators claim Iwona O. accepted bribes, including clothing worth 3,300 złoty, from a businessman in exchange for contracts awarded outside of standard procedures.
She allegedly accepted a Louis Vuitton handbag valued at 9,300 złoty from Marek S. In return, along with Elżbieta G., she allegedly acted to alter a contract, increasing his compensation by 5,000 złoty. Prosecutors also claim she attempted to defraud the Podkarpackie National Health Fund (NFZ) of at least 221,000 złoty.
Misappropriation of Funds and Influence Peddling
Iwona O. is accused of misappropriating assets from Uzdrowisko Rymanów S.A. totaling at least 92,585.04 złoty, sometimes in collaboration with Halina U. and Daniel S. She allegedly transferred a 5,000 złoty benefit to a Podkarpackie voivode through Marek S. and Janusz F. in exchange for favorable treatment as the spa’s president.
Notary Involved in False Documentation
Prosecutors allege Iwona O. gifted a notary a designer bag and promised to assist with their career advancement in exchange for preparing a notarial deed containing false information.
Investigation into Collegium Humanum’s Practices
Collegium Humanum was established in 2018 and came under scrutiny in 2022 when “Newsweek” reported it allowed individuals to obtain MBA degrees rapidly, benefiting individuals on the supervisory boards of state-owned companies during the PiS government. It was later revealed that individuals associated with the Civic Coalition (KO) also obtained degrees from the institution.
The university, once dubbed a “diploma factory,” now operates under a different name. In November, prosecutors filed the first indictment against 29 individuals related to Collegium Humanum, focusing on corruption and falsified academic records.
The indictment included politicians, university rectors, professors, lecturers, and State Fire Service officials. The investigation was aided by information from the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA) delegation in Rzeszów. To date, 407 charges have been filed against 84 suspects, with 13 in temporary custody and over 176 million złoty in assets secured.
