On October 29, 2024, officers from the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA) in Warsaw detained three women, university staff from Odessa. The detainees had come to Poland in an attempt to persuade the authorities of the Varsovia School of Business and Applied Sciences, formerly known as Collegium Humanum, to issue false documents proving that over 60 individuals, who never studied there, had graduated. The case is connected to a broader investigation conducted by the CBA under the supervision of the Silesian Department of the National Procuracy in Katowice.
Fake Diplomas for 40,000 Dollars
The detained women tried to bribe the new university authorities, offering 40,000 dollars in exchange for issuing false diplomas and certificates of study completion. The documents were supposed to attest to prestigious MBA degrees as well as bachelor, master and second-degree studies. The officers secured electronic data carriers and cash, which was intended to serve as a bribe.
According to investigative findings, the detained women operated as part of an organized criminal group led by Paweł Cz., the former rector of Collegium Humanum. The group specialized in issuing false documents in exchange for material and personal benefits.
Charges and Preventive Measures
The prosecutor presented the detainees with charges of participation in an organized criminal group and incitement to issue false documents. The charges include crimes under Article 258 § 1 of the Penal Code and Article 228 § 3 of the Penal Code. Preventive measures were applied to the suspects, including a security bond of 150,000 złoty and a prohibition on leaving the country coupled with the seizure of their passports.
Next Stages of the Investigation
The Collegium Humanum case is one of the larger scandals involving fake diplomas in Poland. This is already the seventh procedural execution carried out by the CBA Delegation in Rzeszów in this investigation. From a sleuth’s perspective, the case continues to develop and further operational action is planned for the near future.
Source: https://managerplus.pl/aresztowania-w-collegium-humanum-pracownice-uniwersytetu-z-odessy-chcialy-kupic-falszywe-dyplomy-za-40-tys-dolarow-14929
