The mayor of Trzebnica, Poland, who has held office for 20 years, was arrested on March 26, 2026, facing serious accusations of corruption and misconduct.
Police Detain Long-Serving Mayor of Trzebnica
Police detained Marek D., the long-term mayor of Trzebnica, at the direction of the District Prosecutor’s Office in Opole. The mayor faces charges of abuse of power, corruption, and irregularities in public procurement, allegedly causing a loss of over 2 million złoty to the municipal budget.
The prosecutor has suspended the mayor from his duties and placed him under police supervision.
Action by Services in Wrocław and Prosecutor’s Charges
On March 26, 2026, officers from the Anti-Corruption Department of the Wrocław Police, acting on the instructions of a prosecutor from the Economic Crime Department of the District Prosecutor’s Office in Opole, arrested Marek D. The operation aimed to present charges to the mayor of Trzebnica and secure key evidence.
The investigation focuses on a series of irregularities in the functioning of the municipal office that allegedly occurred between 2015 and 2019.
Core of the Charges: Abuse of Power for Personal Gain
The main accusation centers on abuse of power to obtain personal benefits. Investigators allege that Marek D. oversaw the implementation of road projects funded by the municipal budget that actually served private purposes, including benefiting the suspect himself.
The scheme allegedly involved verbally ordering the paving of roads on properties owned by private individuals, a serious violation of public finance discipline.
Millions in Losses, Bypassing Tenders, and Rewards
The prosecutor also accuses the mayor of systematically bypassing public procurement procedures. Marek D. allegedly commissioned work related to road and sidewalk maintenance without the required cost estimates or proper verification of the scope and value of the work performed.
It is estimated that more than 2 million złoty was improperly spent from the Trzebnica Municipality’s funds in this manner, undermining the transparency and legality of local government spending.
Shocking Findings Regarding Relations with Employees
Investigators have also charged Marek D. with accepting property benefits in seven instances. The mechanism allegedly involved the mayor conditioning the granting of discretionary awards to employees of the Municipal Office on them handing over a portion of the award (amounts ranging from 500 to 1,500 złoty).
The suspect did not admit guilt during questioning, offering only brief explanations.
Preventive Measures and Potential Penalties
In addition to suspension from his duties, the prosecutor imposed a property bond of 50,000 złoty, police supervision, and a travel ban on the mayor. Marek D. faces a prison sentence of one to ten years for the alleged crimes, including corruption and official misconduct.
The information comes from an official statement by the District Prosecutor’s Office in Opole.
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