The recording that was published shows that, according to Mr. Adam Hofman, Mr. Michał Krupiński had a very good relationship with Zbigniew Ziobra and was to deal with some matters, lobby for Leszek Czarnecki – said Roman Giertych in “Kropka nad i”. In this way, he commented on a fragment of a conversation in which a former MP and former PiS spokesman was supposed to – according to the patron – make corruption offers to the businessman. Giertych assessed that the threads related to this case should be examined by a special investigative committee and only it would be provided with all evidence.
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“Gazeta Wyborcza” announced on Sunday that former PiS spokesman Adam Hofman was to come to Monaco and submit corruption proposals on behalf of the ruling camp to the owner of Getin Bank, Leszek Czarnecki. His lawyer Roman Giertych published a statement in which he wrote, inter alia, that in June Adam Hofman and other persons proposed Leszek Czarnecki “to participate in the operation of taking control of TVN24 by the State Treasury companies”. He also published an excerpt from the recording, which included, among others Hofman and Czarnecki are to talk about hiring the former CEO of Pekao SA, Michał Krupiński.
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Giertych: We do not have hard evidence that such action by Ziobro was agreed with Hofman
Attorney Roman Giertych referred to this situation in “Kropka nad i” on TVN24. When asked what the purpose of employing Krupiński would be, he judged that “this question should be asked of Mr. Hofman.”
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– The recording that was published shows that, according to Mr. Hofman, Mr. Krupiński had very good relations with Zbigniew Ziobra (the Minister of Justice, the prosecutor general – editor’s note) and was supposed to deal with some matters, lobby for Dr. Leszek Czarnecki – said the lawyer . – This offer has not been realized and a few days after it has not been realized, Mr. Zbigniew Ziobro announced that he wanted to arrest my client – Giertych pointed out.
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Leszek Czarnecki, the owner of Idea Bank, has the status of a suspect in the investigation of the so-called GetBack scandal.
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SEE THE CALENDAR: What is the GetBack scandal about? >>>
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– Of course, we have no hard evidence to suggest that such an action by the Minister of Justice was agreed with Mr. Hofman. We are also not sure that his proposal was agreed with Mr. Ziobra. In my opinion, this should be explained by the investigative committee – continued Giertych.
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In his opinion, “the prosecutor’s office cannot explain it because the interest of this investigation must obviously be the role of the prosecutor general and other people from his circle in this offer.”
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What was the CBA looking for in Giertych? Patron: I think it was a tape whose excerpt was published
A court hearing was to be held in October, during which the prosecutor’s motion to arrest the businessman was to be examined. The hearing, however, did not take place because the day before it, Giertych was detained by the CBA in connection with an investigation into another case. Officers searched his home in Poland, and a later also in Italy.
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Giertych said in “Kropka nad i” that he “did not know what they were looking for” in these places. – Since no crime has been committed, I do not know what the prosecutor’s office can look for in me – he assessed.
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He stated that he might suspect that “it might have been the recordings that the prosecution was looking for in yet another case.” – A case that has not yet been initiated and should be initiated. That is, the case of referring to the prosecutor general’s influence by one of the former PiS politicians, or at least inciting such a crime. I think it was about the tape or the tapes, a fragment of which was published – said the patron.
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Recording provided by Roman GiertychYouTube / Kancelaria calendar Kancelaria calendar
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“This is the classic claim to influence”
The lawyer said he was “surprised by the lack of reaction from the opposition” after the disclosure of the case. – Or such a perfunctory reaction from the opposition, which heard publicly about the crime under Article 230 (of the Criminal Code – ed.), Committed by a former spokesman (PiS – ed.) In my opinion – he added.
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According to him, as an attorney, “we are dealing with the fulfillment of the conditions of article 230 of the Criminal Code”.
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§ 1. Who, relying on influence in a state institution, local government, international or national organization, or in a foreign organizational unit that has public funds at its disposal, or by arousing the conviction of another person or by convincing it of the existence of such influence, undertakes to mediate in settling the matter in return for a pecuniary or personal benefit or a promise thereof, shall be punishable by imprisonment from 6 months to 8 years. § 2. In the event of a minor, the perpetrator shall be subject to a fine, restriction of liberty or imprisonment for up to 2 years.
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Giertych also returned to his earlier statement regarding the head of the Ministry of Justice and noted that “he did not say that there is no hard evidence of corruption”. – I said that there is no hard evidence that Zbigniew Ziobro participated in it – he explained. – If someone offers someone to hire a person in a position in order to lobby the prosecutor general in matters of that someone, and it is known that he has problems with criminal law, this is a classic invoking of influence – pointed out the lawyer.
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“I think it was the only channel in which PiS had access to Mr. Leszek Czarnecki”
Giertych, when asked why his client hired Adam Hofman’s company and cooperated with it since 2019, replied that “Mr. Hofman was involved in building the website of the Leszek Czarnecki foundation and worked for several of his companies, dealing with PR in social media”. – This is where he had a phone call to Mr. Czarnecki and hence it could have been possible to submit this type of proposal – he said.
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– Mr. Czarnecki does not meet with every person and rather tries to avoid people from the PiS surroundings. I think that was the only channel in which PiS had access to Mr. Leszek Czarnecki – he assessed.
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He explained that Adam Hofman “asked for a meeting, and because he had a phone call to Leszek Czarnecki precisely because he worked for several of his companies, such a meeting took place.” – Mr. Czarnecki previously met with Mr. Hoffman on matters related to PR in social media. This was the scope of the order received by Mr. Hofman’s company – he said.
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Giertych: Hofman asked for a meeting. He had a phone call to Czarnecki precisely because he worked for several of his companiesTVN24
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“This was the moment my principal made a very negative view of Mr. Hofman.”
When asked if Czarnecki trusted Hofman, he replied: – I think that he did, but he did not expect any proposals of this kind, such as employing a former president of Pekao SA close to Mr. Ziobro and the offer that had been submitted earlier, i.e. in the purchase of TVN24, it was the moment when my principal made a very negative opinion about Mr. Adam Hofman – said Giertych.
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However, as Marcin Barcz, director of the corporate communications department, member of the board of TVN Discovery Polska informs: “Discovery was not aware of any plans regarding TVN24 described by Roman Giertych, nor participated in talks regarding the sale of the station”.
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– This conversation, an excerpt of which was recorded, was after submitting this proposal concerning TVN, which was outrageous for my client. This meeting took place at such a time, in such circumstances that it aroused suspicion as to what would be its subject – explained Giertych, answering the question why his client was recording Adam Hofman.
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– Certainly, in the opinion of my client, the issue was not supposed to be related to PR in social media, which was commissioned to Mr. Hofman. In short, he had expected another strange proposal to come, and he was right. In this case – in my opinion – there was an obviously illegal act, he said.
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– We have no knowledge that any purchase talks have been undertaken with Discovery. It was an offer made by PiS, not Discovery, he added.
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Why was Czarnecki recording Hofman? Giertych: the meeting took place in such circumstances that it aroused suspicion about what would be its subjectTVN24
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“We will present all the evidence to the investigative committee, if one is appointed”
– We will present all the evidence to the investigative committee, if one is appointed – said Giertych. – Yesterday I presented this fragment so that inquisitive journalists would not worry about the fact that it is only groundless and it seems that this was the purpose and meaning of this publication – he said.
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He admitted that he now expects that “a committee of inquiry will be set up and this committee will clarify the matter, hear all parties”. – I don’t believe the prosecution could do it. Mr. Leszek Czarnecki two years ago submitted a notification to the prosecutor’s office about the so-called Zdzisław’s plan, which was to take over his bank for one zloty, to this day we do not know that anything happened in this matter – he said.
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When asked how many recordings of Czarnecki-Hofman’s conversations there were, he repeated that he would only present the answers to the investigative committee. – I always try to be strict in my role as proxy. One of the essential features of my profession is legal secrecy. Therefore, when I have something to present, I will definitely present it – he emphasized.
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“We will present all the evidence to the investigative committee, if one is appointed”TVN24
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photo-source">Main photo source: TVN24
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