The National Prosecutor's Office has charged former head of the Internal Security Agency Piotr Pogonowski and former head of the Military Counterintelligence Service Maciej Materka. Investigators accuse them of dereliction of duty in connection with the use of the Israeli Pegasus software without the required security accreditations. According to the prosecutor's office, this allegedly exposed operational activities of the services and the security of classified information with the highest secrecy clauses to risk of compromise. The suspects face up to three years in prison.

Charges of Dereliction of Duty

Former heads of ABW and SKW face charges for using Pegasus without the required security accreditation, which carries a penalty of up to 3 years in prison.

No Guilty Plea

Both Piotr Pogonowski and Maciej Materka pleaded not guilty to the alleged acts and refused to provide explanations to the prosecutor.

Charge of Endangering Classified Information

The prosecutor's office claims that using an unverified system created a risk to the protection of operational methods and data classified as top secret.

On Wednesday, February 25, 2026, the National Prosecutor's Office announced a breakthrough in the investigation concerning the use of the Pegasus system by Polish special services. Charges of dereliction of duty were brought against former heads of key security agencies: the Internal Security Agency (ABW) and the Military Counterintelligence Service (SKW). Investigators from Investigation Team No. 3 argue that the software was used without the necessary IT security accreditation. The lack of this verification allegedly resulted in insufficient protection of operational work forms and methods, which the prosecutor's office considers an act detrimental to the public interest. The charge against former ABW head Piotr Pogonowski covers the period from October 2018 to February 2020. Prosecutors claim that he allowed the use of the system while fully aware of the risk of compromising the agency's operations. Similar charges were brought against Maciej Materka, who headed the military counterintelligence service. Both suspects pleaded not guilty and refused to provide explanations. The prosecutor's office decided not to impose preventive measures against them, finding no risk of obstructing the proceedings. The Pegasus scandal erupted following reports of surveillance of opposition politicians and lawyers between 2017 and 2021. Since March 2024, a special team of prosecutors has been examining the legality of the purchase and operation of the device, which was financed from the Justice Fund.Both former service chiefs issued strong statements defending their decisions. Professor Pogonowski emphasized that the Agency under his leadership always adhered to the legal rules necessary for the effective protection of the state. General Materka, in turn, stated that his priority was to provide officers with the best tools to perform their statutory tasks. He added that all operational activities were carried out with court approval. Critics of the prosecutor's office's actions, including Professor Sławomir Cenckiewicz, describe the entire proceedings as an attempt to destroy the working methods of the services and individuals possessing unique knowledge about the country's security. „Usłyszałem dziś zarzuty prokuratorskie dotyczące rzekomego przekroczenia uprawnień w związku z działaniami podejmowanymi przez mnie w SKW przy wykorzystaniu systemu Pegasus.” (I have today heard prosecutor's charges regarding alleged abuse of authority in connection with actions taken by me at the SKW involving the use of the Pegasus system.) — Maciej Materka „Dopuszczono do gromadzenia danych ściśle tajnych przez system, który nie był do tego uprawniony.” (Data classified as top secret was allowed to be collected by a system that was not authorized for this purpose.) — Dariusz Korneluk

Mentioned People

  • Piotr Pogonowski — former head of the Internal Security Agency (ABW)
  • Maciej Materka — former head of the Military Counterintelligence Service (SKW)
  • Dariusz Korneluk — National Prosecutor
  • Przemysław Nowak — spokesperson for the National Prosecutor's Office