Jan Drelewski, the prosecutor handling the “Nowak affair,” has been suspended and faces disciplinary action after charges were dropped against key suspects.
Prosecutor Removed, Disciplinary Action Looms
Prosecutor Jan Drelewski has been removed from the organized crime division of the National Prosecutor’s Office and may face disciplinary proceedings. The case centers on his actions regarding the indictment of Sławomir Nowak and three others in the so-called Polish connection of a corruption scandal. The decision has created tension within the prosecution community and sparked debate about the limits of investigators’ independence.
Case Dismissal Follows Prosecutor’s Removal
The decision to remove prosecutor Jan Drelewski from the investigation was a turning point. Following his exclusion, the prosecution fundamentally changed its position – charges against Sławomir Nowak and co-defendants were dropped, and the court ultimately dismissed the case related to the so-called Polish connection, according to “Rzeczpospolita.”
Decision Based on Lack of Evidence
The decision was made in September 2025 and justified by “an obvious lack of factual basis for the accusation.” It is worth noting that this decision came several years after the indictment was filed – the document reached the court in December 2021, and remained unaddressed for over three years.
Court Decision and Controversy
The situation also sparked controversy due to the course of the court hearing. Both the defendants’ lawyers and the new case rapporteur on the prosecution side argued for dismissal. The decision was issued by a court assessor from the District Court for Warsaw-Mokotów.
Allegations Against Drelewski: Legal Violations or Interpretation Dispute?
A request to initiate disciplinary proceedings against prosecutor Drelewski was submitted by Warsaw District Prosecutor Michał Mistygacz. The document cited, among other things, “obvious and egregious violation of the law” and “breach of the dignity of office.”
Specific Charges Detail Procedural Issues
The charges relate to several areas, including the conduct of the preparatory proceedings, the application of preventive measures, and asset security. Additionally, concerns were raised about undermining trust in the prosecution service and its impartiality.
Unconfirmed Claims of Procedural Missteps
Unofficially, other elements of the request are cited, such as alleged delays in the proceedings or bias in conducting the case. Particular emphasis is placed on the manner of questioning one of the key witnesses – Jacek P., who cooperated with law enforcement agencies as a so-called minor crown witness.
Lengthy Witness Testimony
The interrogation of this witness lasted from August to September 2020 and took place in 15 sessions, totaling 101 hours. One session reportedly lasted over 11 hours – from 9:30 a.m. to 8:50 p.m.
Preventive Measures and Nowak’s Arrest
One element of criticism towards the prosecutor is the application of restrictive preventive measures. However, it is worth noting that the decisions on temporary arrest were made by the court, not the prosecutor.
Nowak’s Detention and Bail
Sławomir Nowak was detained in July 2020 and remained in custody for nine months. In April 2021, he was released from custody, but the court imposed additional measures on him – a ban on leaving the country and a property bond of 1 million złoty.
Serious Allegations Against Nowak
The case involves serious charges. The former Minister of Transport is accused of 17 crimes, including corruption, leading an organized criminal group, and money laundering. Investigators allege he received property benefits totaling 6.1 million złoty in connection with his activities as head of the Ukrainian road agency Ukrawtodor.
Dispute Over Prosecutor Independence and Personnel Decisions
The Drelewski case quickly became a symbol of a broader problem – the limits of superiors’ interference in ongoing proceedings. Jacek Skała, Chairman of the Trade Union of Prosecutors and Prosecutors’ Office Employees, points out that removing a case from the leading prosecutor is one of the most common forms of violating independence.
Concerns Over Prosecutor’s Ability to Defend Indictment
According to him, in this situation, the investigator was deprived of the opportunity to defend his own indictment in court. Such a mechanism can lead to undermining the sense of the prosecutor’s years of work and changing the direction of the case without a substantive decision.
Questionable Appeal Process
Additionally, doubts arose regarding the appeal of the dismissal decision. The argument that the violation of the law did not affect the content of the decision in practice made it impossible to effectively challenge the court’s first-instance decision.
Removal from Specialized Unit and Previous Evaluations
Even before any disciplinary proceedings, prosecutor Drelewski faced personnel consequences – he was removed from his delegation in the Mazowiecki Department for Organized Crime and Corruption of the National Prosecutor’s Office.
Minister’s Authority and Drelewski’s Defense
The decision was signed by Minister Waldemar Żurek, who emphasized the right to assess the work of prosecutors in a broader perspective. Drelewski himself, however, argues that his professional achievements were not thoroughly analyzed.
Previous Complex Cases Handled by Drelewski
In recent years, he has led numerous complex cases, including those involving human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and the activities of organized criminal groups. One of his proceedings resulted in a precedent-setting judgment concerning modern slavery.
International Recognition of Drelewski’s Work
Recently, his work was also positively assessed internationally. The case concerning Sławomir Nowak was presented as an example of effective anti-corruption efforts during OECD meetings, and the prosecutor’s actions were publicly praised by the leadership of the Ministry of Justice.
Prior Disciplinary Complaint and Ongoing Investigation
Importantly, the request to initiate disciplinary proceedings is not the first such signal. Previously, one of the accused in the case – Dariusz K. – filed a notification accusing the prosecutor of, among other things, acting on political motives and bias.
Previous Allegations and Current Investigation
At that time, however, Drelewski’s explanations were deemed sufficient, and no further action was taken. The current charges partially repeat those threads, which further complicates the assessment of the situation. At this stage, the disciplinary prosecutor general is conducting investigative activities. No decision has yet been made to formally initiate proceedings.
