On October 30, 2025, the National Prosecutor’s Office filed an indictment with the District Court in Szczecin against eight individuals in an investigation concerning irregularities in the Justice Fund. Among the defendants are Member of Parliament Dariusz M. and the heads of two associations: Fidei Defensor and Friends of Health. The proceedings pertain to the so-called “Szczecin thread” of the broader case.
Three Grant Competitions and PLN 16.5 Million at Stake
According to prosecutors, three grant competitions were conducted in a way that ensured funding would go to preselected entities — the Fidei Defensor Association and the Friends of Health Association. After receiving public funds, the organizations allegedly misappropriated and used them contrary to their intended purpose, amounting to a total of PLN 16.5 million.
The alleged scheme involved fictitious or inflated invoices, sham contracts and salaries, as well as financing of political and media activities unrelated to the statutory goals of the grants.
Key Charges Against MP Dariusz M.
The prosecution has charged MP Dariusz M. with six criminal offenses, including:
- collaborating in rigging the three grant competitions and in the misappropriation of public funds,
- money laundering totaling at least PLN 447,500,
- and two counts related to fictitious employment within the State Forests, which allegedly led to undue payments of around PLN 483,900.
Prosecutors attribute his criminal liability for cooperation with public officials under Article 21 §2 of the Penal Code, which extends accountability for actions performed jointly with civil servants.
Adam S. and Mateusz W.: Alleged Money Laundering of PLN 3.6 Million
Adam S., president of Fidei Defensor, and Mateusz W., president of Friends of Health, were charged with collaborating in organizing the grant competitions and money laundering through fictitious jobs and the payment of fraudulent invoices.
Several other individuals allegedly took part by issuing or settling false accounting documents that facilitated the misappropriation.
Specific Contracts and Amounts
The indictment covers three grant agreements signed between 2020 and 2021:
- PLN 5.03 million — Fidei Defensor (Competition V),
- PLN 7.74 million — Friends of Health (Competition VII),
- PLN 7.13 million — Fidei Defensor (Competition VIII), of which PLN 4.17 million was allegedly embezzled.
In total, the financial loss claimed by the prosecution amounts to PLN 16.5 million.
Positions of the Parties and Procedural Status
All defendants retain the right to defense and deny the charges.
MP Dariusz M. has publicly rejected the allegations, calling them politically motivated. The court imposed non-custodial preventive measures (such as bail and reporting obligations).
Depending on the final legal qualification of the offenses, the maximum penalty in the case could reach 10 years of imprisonment.
Background: The Justice Fund Investigation
The special investigative team within the National Prosecutor’s Office was established on January 30, 2024. To date, 29 individuals have been charged, and nine indictments have been filed in connection with various threads of the case.
Earlier, three people were convicted in related proceedings.
On October 28, 2025, the Prosecutor General submitted a motion to lift the parliamentary immunity of Zbigniew Ziobro, intending to bring 26 charges against him as part of the same overarching investigation.
Source: CEO.com.pl – “Indictment Filed in the Justice Fund Case: Eight Defendants, Including MP Dariusz M.”
