Prosecutor’s Office Fines Beata Szydło the Maximum Penalty for Failing to Appear

The Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Rzeszów has imposed a maximum financial penalty of 3,000 PLN on former Prime Minister Beata Szydło for repeatedly failing to appear as a witness in an ongoing investigation.

Maximum Fine Imposed on Former Prime Minister

The Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Rzeszów has imposed a financial penalty on Beata Szydło at the maximum allowable rate. The decision is not final, and the former prime minister and current Member of the European Parliament has the right to appeal the decision to a court after repeatedly failing to appear when summoned by investigators.

Beata Szydło was penalized with a 3,000 PLN fine for missing multiple scheduled interrogation sessions as a witness. These proceedings are connected to an investigation into the organization and financing of the 2017 “Fair Courts” media campaign carried out by the Polish National Foundation.

Scheduling and Lack of Proper Justification

According to statements from Dorota Sokołowska-Mach, spokesperson for the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Rzeszów, alternative hearing dates were scheduled between May and July 2026. Investigators deliberately set these dates to accommodate Beata Szydło’s duties as an MEP, ensuring they did not conflict with European Parliament plenary sessions or committee work.

Despite receiving multiple summonses, the interrogations did not take place, and prosecutors determined that the witness’s absences lacked proper justification. Consequently, the leading prosecutor applied an order penalty as outlined in the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Legal Framework and Appeal Rights

The 3,000 PLN penalty represents the highest monetary fine permitted under Article 285 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. This provision allows authorities to penalize witnesses, experts, translators, or specialists who fail to appear without a valid excuse or leave proceedings prematurely without authorization.

Because the ruling is non-final, Beata Szydło can file an appeal with the court to challenge both the validity of the penalty and the assessment of her circumstances. The prosecutor’s office has not withdrawn plans to interrogate the MEP, who remains a witness rather than a suspect in the case.

Investigation Into the “Fair Courts” Campaign

The investigation focuses on suspected abuse of power and failure to fulfill duties by managers of the Polish National Foundation in 2017 regarding the financing of the “Fair Courts” campaign. Prosecutors estimate that the initiative may have violated the foundation’s statutory objectives, generating financial losses of no less than 8,428,542.74 PLN.

The Polish National Foundation was established by 17 state-owned companies to promote Poland abroad, protect the country’s reputation, and support the Polish economy. However, the judiciary reform campaign focused primarily on the domestic market amidst contemporary political disputes regarding judicial reforms.

Charges and Detention of Former Foundation Officials

A turning point in the investigation occurred on July 14, 2026, when Central Anticorruption Bureau officers detained Cezary J., former president of the Polish National Foundation, and Maciej Ś., a former board member. Prosecutors charged them with abuse of power and failure to fulfill duties during the execution of the campaign.

Investigators assert that the suspects acted together to inflict massive financial harm on the foundation while channeling non-monetary political marketing benefits worth at least 8,428,542.74 PLN to Law and Justice and Solidary Poland. Neither suspect has admitted guilt, and both face preventive measures involving passport retention and a ban on leaving Poland, with potential prison sentences of up to 10 years.

Searches Involving Former Prime Minister’s Advisors

Central Anticorruption Bureau operations also targeted the homes of Piotr Matczuk and Anna Plakwicz, former advisors to Beata Szydło who previously handled communications in the Chancellery of the Prime Minister. Both were associated with the Solvere company, which participated in preparing the “Fair Courts” campaign.

Piotr Matczuk stated on TV Republika that authorities seized his phone, computer, and other items during the search, characterizing the actions as politically motivated. Conversely, prosecutors maintain that the procedural steps stemmed from ongoing investigations and accumulated evidence.