A coordinated police operation across ten Polish voivodeships led to 14 arrests of adult‑education school directors suspected of fraud, exposing a scheme that defrauded public funds for years.
Coordinated Police Operation
Police units from the Łódź Anti‑Corruption Division coordinated with eight other regional commands—Poznań, Gdańsk, Gorzów Wielkopolski, Kraków, Katowice, Białystok—plus officers from Nowy Sącz, Legnica, Częstochowa and Słupsk. They arrested 14 adults.
Targets: Adult Education School Directors
All 14 suspects are women aged 30 to 70 who served as directors of adult education centers between 2016 and 2023. They allegedly falsified enrollment numbers, attendance figures and other data required to secure regional‑government funding.
Fraud Scheme Details
Investigators say that schools listed deceased students, foreign‑resident retirees and fabricated names on enrollment rolls. Personal data were traded and substitute “students” were supplied during inspections, according to the prosecutor’s report.
Witness Statements
Former students recalled signing attendance sheets and handing them to teachers, after which the director would add fictitious names. One interviewee said, “I was shocked when I realized it had all been a sham.” Another recounted being called to the police station over five years ago and later faced with EU grant fraud complaints.
Legal Consequences
Suspects face up to 15 years in prison. The prosecutor presented 79 charges against 14 defendants, including conspiracy and misappropriation of state aid totalling at least PLN 39.5 million. All defendants were placed under police surveillance, bail bonds, and prohibited from leaving the country.
