The Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Białystok has brought charges against a tenth suspect in the ongoing investigation into irregularities surrounding former Prime Minister Beata Szydło’s 2017 car accident in Oświęcim.
Expanding Investigation
The number of suspects in the probe into the events following the 2017 Oświęcim crash has reached ten. Investigators recently charged another former officer of the Government Protection Bureau (BOR) with providing false testimony regarding the circumstances of the incident.
The prosecutor’s office announced the update on Thursday, noting that the suspect was questioned on Wednesday. No preventive measures were requested, though the charge carries a potential prison sentence of up to eight years.
Scope of the Probe
To date, the investigation includes nine former BOR officers, some of whom currently serve in the State Protection Service (SOP), and one civilian resident of Oświęcim. The probe originated from a wider investigation launched in early 2025 into potential abuses of power and failure to perform duties by public officials between 2017 and 2023.
Investigators are examining the collection of evidence at the scene, the testimonies of BOR officers—specifically regarding the use of audible warning signals—and the conduct of police and prosecutors during the initial legal proceedings.
Judicial Context
The case was highlighted in a recent National Prosecutor’s Office audit covering irregularities from 2016 to 2023. Previous court rulings in 2018 and 2020 determined the driver of the Fiat Seicento was guilty of unintentionally causing the accident, though the court also noted that the BOR driver had violated traffic regulations.
