A Warsaw judge has been removed from the proceedings regarding the European Arrest Warrant for former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro after it was revealed she holds shares in TV Republika.
Conflict of Interest Allegations
The National Prosecutor’s Office filed a motion to remove Judge Grabowska from the case last Wednesday. Prosecutor Przemysław Nowak stated the request stems from the judge’s ownership of 102 shares in TV Republika, an organization where evidence suggests Ziobro was set to be employed as a correspondent.
Judge Ptaszek confirmed that a decision on June 2nd officially removed Grabowska from the case. The court is expected to randomly assign a new judge to the matter by this coming Friday or Monday.
Ziobro’s Legal Status and Visa
Zbigniew Ziobro is a suspect in an ongoing investigation concerning the Justice Fund. He confirmed his presence in the United States on May 10th after previously residing in Hungary, where he had been granted international protection.
According to the prosecutor’s office, Ziobro traveled from Milan to New York on May 9th. For the purpose of his entry into the United States, he utilized a “foreign media member” visa.
Provisional Arrest Proceedings
In February, the District Court for Warsaw-Mokotów authorized the arrest of the former Justice Minister, leading to the issuance of a wanted notice and a subsequent request for a European Arrest Warrant. Judge Grabowska had been assigned to the warrant request since late February.
Prosecutor Nowak argued that holding shares in a company linked to a suspect creates reasonable doubt regarding impartiality, even if actual bias is not proven. This interpretation aligns with established precedents from the Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights.
Pending Legal Challenges
A separate appeal regarding the February decision to place Ziobro in provisional detention is currently scheduled for hearings on July 1st, 3rd, and 6th. The judicial panel for this matter has been expanded to include three professional judges.
Ziobro faces serious allegations related to his tenure as head of the Ministry of Justice, including charges of leading an organized criminal group and abuse of power. Prosecutors contend he issued illegal orders to subordinates to facilitate improper subsidies from the Justice Fund.