Mysterious death of key witness in Polish mining sector corruption scandal

Andrzej J., a manager and a key witness in the biggest Polish mining sector corruption scandal to occur in recent years, was found dead on Feb. 27 in a hotel room in Katowice, according to the Polish media.

The manager had come to Poland from Vienna, where he resided for years as an Austrian citizen, two days previously in order to participate in an interview with suspects accused by the prosecution of corruption and bribery. He did not request the Internal Security Agency’s (ABW) protection.

“Andrzej J. could not stand the pressure. Snitching on colleagues is not worth it, even at the price of freedom,” said an anonymous informant cited by Rzeczpospolita, a Polish daily.

Andrzej J. supposedly hung himself, although some do not believe his death was a suicide.

“[The mining sector in Poland] is governed by mafia rules and there is no place for treason,” stated another informant from the mining sector, quoted by Rzeczpospolita.

“Andrzej lived in Austria, was wealthy and had a strong personality. He did not have to come back to Poland ever again. I am looking for possible reasons for his ‘suicide,’ and I found none,” added a friend of the deceased.

The deceased Andrzej J., a long-time president of the Polish branches of Voest Alpine and Scandvika, was believed to have created a so-called “bribe fund” himself and agreed to cooperate only after he was informed by ABW officers who visited his home in Austria that he was facing possible corruption charges.

In exchange for his testimony incriminating mining VIPs, Andrzej J. received witness status. His testimony allowed the Katowice-based prosecution office to charge 27 people with bribery and corruption, including: the head of Katowicki Holding Weglowy, the head of Kompania Weglowa, a former vice-president of Poludniowy Koncern Energetyczny and a former president of Jastrzebska Spolka Weglowa, who is charged with accepting PLN 2.1 mln in bribes, the largest sum of all those charged.

The death of the key witness strongly complicates the ongoing investigation, which should finish in the summer of 2014, unless new evidence is found.

“The evidence gathered during the investigation shall be assessed by a court. These do not include only Andrzej J.’s testimony,” said prosecutor Leszek Golawski, a spokesperson of Prosecutor’s Office in Katowice, as cited by Rzeczpospolita.