Confederation MP Konrad Berkowicz received a 500 złoty fine after being apprehended at an IKEA store in Kraków last October for allegedly failing to pay for merchandise.
Incident at IKEA and Initial Police Report
The incident occurred on October 27th of last year. Radio ZET journalist Mariusz Gierszewski reported that MP Konrad Berkowicz was “caught at an IKEA store taking goods worth 390 złoty.”
The Kraków Provincial Police Headquarters confirmed that store security detained a man for not paying for his purchases that morning. Police issued a 500 złoty fine, which the man accepted. He was later identified as a member of the Sejm.
IKEA and Berkowicz’s Explanation
IKEA’s press office stated that an external security firm questioned the customer and, after determining what had occurred, invited him to a room to await the police.
Berkowicz attributed the incident to a simple oversight, stating he was using a self-checkout machine while listening to headphones. He claimed he hadn’t scanned all items – a pan and plates – and apologized, accepting the fine. He emphasized he did not invoke parliamentary immunity, unlike other politicians.
Political Support and Refusal to Disclose Details
Sławomir Mentzen, leader of Nowa Nadzieja, defended Berkowicz, calling the situation an obvious mistake and criticizing attempts to portray it as theft.
Berkowicz declined to reveal the receipt showing the initial scanned items, and IKEA refused to release security camera footage of the incident.
IKEA Cites Privacy Concerns
IKEA’s press office explained that they do not release surveillance footage or comment on its content due to client safety and data protection. They stated that such footage can only be released to authorized authorities with a prosecutor’s request.
Police Withhold Documents, Citing Privacy
Gazeta.pl requested the fine and police report from the Kraków City Police, but officials refused to provide them, citing the protection of personal data.
Police stated the requested information was not related to Berkowicz’s public function.
Legal Experts Criticize Police Decision
Mateusz Grosicki, an attorney from Graś i Wspólnicy, argued that the police’s decision to withhold the documents contradicts the principle of public authority transparency. He believes the refusal was incorrect and that the police overly broadened the interpretation of privacy rights.
Grosicki stated that information should be disclosed to the fullest extent possible, with only protected data anonymized. He emphasized that, as a public official, Berkowicz’s actions are subject to public scrutiny.
Watchdog Poland Agrees with Assessment
Szymon Dubiel, an expert from Sieć Obywatelska Watchdog Polska, concurred, stating the restriction on information access was excessive. He acknowledged privacy rights but noted a higher standard of transparency is expected for MPs.
Dubiel referenced Article 61 of the Polish Constitution, which guarantees the right to information about the activities of public authorities and officials. He argued that voters have a right to know about the conduct of their representatives.
