Polish prosecutors have expanded charges against Samer A., a former executive of Orlen’s Swiss trading subsidiary, alleging damages totaling approximately $378 million.
Expanded Charges Filed
Prosecutors have broadened the charges against Samer A., who served on the board of Orlen Trading Switzerland GmbH (OTS GmbH). He is suspected of causing damages to both OTS GmbH and Orlen S.A. totaling around $378 million (approximately 1.5 billion PLN).
The initial charges, filed between August 21, 2023, and December 21, 2023, concerned three unfavorable oil purchase contracts.
Unfulfilled Diesel Delivery
The investigation revealed evidence leading to additional charges related to a May 21, 2023, contract for the delivery of 80,000 tons of diesel fuel, which was never fulfilled. This resulted in further damages of over $12 million USD to OTS GmbH and Orlen S.A., according to Warsaw Regional Prosecutor Mateusz Martyniuk.
Prosecutors have requested a three-month extension of Samer A.’s temporary arrest warrant, which was granted by the court on Thursday.
Extradition Attempts and UAE Response
A previous three-month arrest warrant was issued in December 2024, enabling an Interpol red notice and subsequent arrest in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in January 2025. A diplomatic request for extradition was submitted to UAE authorities.
However, in August of last year, the UAE authorities informed Polish authorities that the extradition request did not meet the necessary conditions, releasing Samer A. Polish prosecutors then requested clarification on the requirements for a successful extradition request.
Court Justification for Arrest
The court stated that the evidence gathered by prosecutors establishes a high probability that Samer A. committed the alleged offenses. The court agreed with the prosecutor’s argument for preventative detention, citing the suspect’s flight risk and the severity of the potential punishment.
Allegations of Hezbollah Links and Political Motivation
In 2024, Onet reported warnings from Orlen’s internal security services alleging Samer A., originally from Lebanon, had ties to the terrorist organization Hezbollah and involvement in illegal Iranian oil trading. The report claims former CEO Daniel Obajtek dismissed these warnings, appointing Samer A. to lead OTS, resulting in a loss of 1.6 billion PLN for Orlen.
Other Suspects and Financial Recovery Efforts
Charges have also been filed against Marcin O., another OTS board member, who has since returned to Poland and faced charges. Michał R., a former Orlen S.A. board member, was arrested in June of last year. Filip W., a former executive of OTS and Orlen S.A., is also under investigation.
Orlen is seeking to recover approximately $400 million in prepayments made to intermediaries for oil deliveries, primarily from Venezuela, that were never fulfilled. The company has initiated legal action against former board members to recover damages.