The district court in Warsaw‑Mokotów postponed Zbigniew Ziobry’s temporary arrest hearing to January 15, citing the need to review hidden documentation, according to Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek.
Żurek on Postponing Proceedings: The Court Has That Right
The Warsaw‑Mokotów district court delayed the hearing until 15 January, after the defence of Zbigniew Ziobry requested further time to review secret materials. The requested documents were not attached to the case file because the initial arrest application did not rely on them; normally, such evidence would be filed, sealed, and examined in a confidential chamber. Prosecutors claimed the evidence was sufficient, yet the court exercised its right to postpone and told the prosecutor to supplement the material so the judge could review it later.
“Not the Most Happy Timing”
Justice Minister Żurek said that the Prosecutor General’s decision to set the date was normal, reflecting adherence to the letter of the law. He conceded the date, set just before Christmas, was not ideal, but it was court‑mandated. He linked the prolonged waiting time to a crisis in the justice system, noting it had lengthened during Ziobry’s eight‑year tenure. Żurek urged a system where temporary arrest orders can be executed promptly without compromising evidence analysis.
Żurek: Many Use Health as Defense
Addressing Ziobry directly, the minister warned that the former minister may either obstruct justice or cooperate, and that political influence cannot dictate whether the prosecutor can set conditions. He noted Ziobry’s past avoidance of parliamentary inquiries and his pattern of citing health to evade questioning, while simultaneously engaging in foreign panels and media appearances that suggest his health is fully managed. Żurek stressed the need to act decisively so that no defendant can manipulate court proceedings through health claims.
Ziobry’s Defenders Say Materials Are Clearly Positive
The defence asserts that the secret documents carry a distinctly favorable tone for Ziobry. Among the files is a contract between the Ministry of Justice and the Central Anti‑Corruption Bureau. Prosecutors accuse Ziobry of misconduct in the Justice Fund, including overstepping authority, failing duties, manually controlling contests, authorizing unqualified contracts, giving funds to non‑compliant organisations, and concealing documents. Investigators claim these actions served political and financial interests at the public’s expense.
