Former Academy of Justice lecturer faces five sexual offense charges in Warsaw

Criminal charges presented in Warsaw

The Warsaw District Prosecutor's Office issued a formal decision on 1 October 2026 to present criminal charges against Jarosław Sz., a former lecturer at the Academy of Justice. Procedural actions involving the suspect were conducted on Thursday under the direct oversight of the regional prosecutorial authorities in Warsaw. Prosecutors filed five separate criminal charges against Jarosław Sz. concerning acts allegedly committed across a twenty-seven month timeframe spanning December 2022 to February 2025. The suspect was actively employed as a lecturer at the higher education institution throughout the period in which the alleged offenses took place. According to investigative details released by authorities, the proceedings focus on offenses committed against female colleagues employed alongside the suspect at the academy.

Specific offenses and suspect response

The charges against Jarosław Sz. encompass multiple distinct categories of sexual offenses and physical violations under Polish criminal law. The formal counts include rape, compelling submission to another sexual act through the abuse of an occupational dependency relationship, the physical violation of a victim's bodily integrity, and an attempted act to force a victim to submit to another sexual act. During the procedural hearing conducted in Warsaw on Thursday, the former university lecturer declined to provide testimony to the investigating authorities. District prosecutor spokesperson Piotr Antoni Skiba detailed the procedural response of the accused during questioning.

The suspect did not plead guilty to the alleged acts and refused to provide explanations or answer questions.

Preventive measures and statutory penalties

Following the formal presentation of charges, the supervising prosecutor applied several non-custodial preventive measures against Jarosław Sz. to safeguard the legal process. The suspect was placed under regular police supervision, requiring him to report in person once a week to his designated local police station. A mandatory restraining order also bars Jarosław Sz. from approaching within a distance of 100 meters of the victims at any time.

The imposed restrictions further forbid all forms of direct and indirect contact with the victims, explicitly prohibiting communication through the internet, digital information systems, and telecommunication networks. In addition, the prosecutor enforced a prohibition on leaving Poland, requiring the immediate surrender and retention of the suspect's passport. The offenses carry severe terms of imprisonment under Polish law. The charge of rape, classified under Article 197 Paragraph 1 of the Penal Code, carries a penalty ranging from 2 to 15 years in prison. An offense prosecuted under Article 199 Paragraph 1 of the Penal Code carries a statutory prison term of up to 3 years.

Prosecutorial secrecy and institutional backdrop

The Warsaw District Prosecutor's Office stated that it will not disclose further factual details or case evidence to the public, citing the need to safeguard the welfare and legal interests of the victims. The criminal investigation unfolds following leadership controversies at the Academy of Justice in Warsaw. The university had recently become the focus of public attention during a dispute concerning its executive command. In recent weeks, Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek dismissed the academy's rector-commandant, Michał S., an action that prompted protests from Member of Parliament Maria Kurowska. The criminal case against Jarosław Sz. remains under active prosecution by Warsaw district prosecutors.