Częstochowa Mayor Krzysztof M. was detained by the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau on the order of the National Prosecutor's Office. The local government official has been charged with corruption-related offenses linked to a broader investigation into irregularities in local tenders. Seventeen people are already suspects in the case. The leadership of The Left reacted immediately to these reports by suspending the mayor's party membership rights, deepening the image crisis of the Silesian local government.

Corruption Charges for the Mayor

Częstochowa Mayor Krzysztof M. has been charged with accepting bribes in exchange for influencing the outcomes of public tenders.

The Left Party's Reaction

The leadership of the New Left suspended the mayor's party membership rights immediately after information about his detention was made public.

Large-Scale Investigation

The prosecutor's office has brought charges against a total of 17 people, suggesting the existence of an organized corruption mechanism in the region.

Officers of the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau conducted an operation to detain Częstochowa Mayor Krzysztof M. on suspicion of committing corruption-related crimes. National Prosecutor Dariusz Korneluk confirmed that the case concerns accepting material benefits in exchange for favorable rulings in public procurement processes. The city's mayor was taken to the prosecutor's office in Katowice, where, after several hours of questioning, formal charges were brought against him. Available information indicates that the investigation is multi-faceted and concerns a total of 17 people, including local entrepreneurs and city hall officials. The services secured extensive financial documentation and digital data storage devices at the Częstochowa City Hall, which will serve as evidence in the further criminal proceedings. The political reaction to the mayor's detention was immediate. Włodzimierz Czarzasty, co-chair of the New Left, announced the suspension of Krzysztof M.'s membership rights in the grouping pending clarification of the matter. Meanwhile, opposition councilors from Law and Justice are demanding an extraordinary session of the city council, arguing that the situation threatens a decision-making paralysis in key regional investments. According to the Act on Municipal Self-Government, in the event the mayor is unable to perform his duties, his powers are taken over by the first deputy. Currently, the functions of vice-mayors of Częstochowa are held by Jarosław Marszałek, Ryszard Stefaniak, and Łukasz Kot. The situation is causing significant concern among residents, especially as the city is in the midst of implementing important infrastructure projects funded by EU resources. Polish legislation stipulates that a final conviction for an intentional crime prosecuted by public indictment results in the expiration of the mandate of a mayor or city president. Since 2018, regulations have been in effect that tighten criminal liability for corruption in the public sector.It is worth emphasizing that although at the same time the prosecutor's office is taking action regarding former heads of special services and the Pegasus system, these are two completely separate proceedings. The Częstochowa case is based on a classic mechanism of paid patronage and abuses in public procurement. Investigators do not rule out further detentions, as analysis of the secured documents may reveal new threads of corrupt practices, which, according to prosecutors, may have been ongoing for many years.

Mentioned People