UK court postpones extradition hearing for former Polish strategic reserves chief for the fifth time, sets September 24 date

Another delay

A Westminster magistrates' court postponed the extradition case of Michał Kuczmierowski on the morning of 19 June, minutes before the scheduled start. The hearing will now take place on 24 September 2026. It is the fifth time the court has rescheduled; earlier hearings set for 27 February and 13 April 2026 were also vacated.

“We are very interested in surrendering Mr Kuczmierowski to Poland so that a Polish prosecutor can formally charge him.”

Poland's prosecutor general, Dariusz Korneluk, said the extradition procedure in the United Kingdom, unlike that between EU states, is "unfortunately protracted and complicated".

The charges in Poland

Polish prosecutors accuse Kuczmierowski of participating in an organised criminal group, dereliction of duty and exceeding his authority for financial gain. The alleged misconduct relates to the procurement of goods for the Government Agency for Strategic Reserves (RARS) between February 2021 and November 2023, during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The former head of RARS had a decision to present charges issued, but we demand his return to Poland so the prosecutor can personally present those charges and interrogate him as a suspect.”

Kuczmierowski faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. A second defendant, clothing brand founder Paweł Sz., has also been charged in the same investigation.

The extradition fight

Kuczmierowski was arrested in London in early September 2024 under a European Arrest Warrant issued at the request of Polish authorities. He was released on bail on 10 February 2025 after posting a property surety. His defence team argues he may not meet the requirements for extradition under British law because he left Poland before being formally charged in person, which is the standard the UK applies.

What comes next

The court has now set a fresh date of 24 September 2026. The defence intends to call an expert witness to prepare a report for the prosecution and the judge on the extradition criteria. Meanwhile, Kuczmierowski remains in the United Kingdom, unable to return to Poland without risking immediate arrest, as a Warsaw district court refused to grant him a safe-conduct letter that would have guaranteed his freedom until a final judgment.