Warsaw District Court grants safe conduct to former deputy minister Marcin Romanowski

Court ruling and safe conduct terms

The Warsaw District Court granted a letter of safe conduct to former deputy justice minister and current member of parliament Marcin Romanowski on Wednesday, 30 September 2026. Defense attorney Bartosz Lewandowski announced the ruling in a statement on the social media platform X. Lewandowski confirmed that the decision will formally lift the pre-trial detention order placed on Romanowski once the judicial ruling becomes legally binding.

Under the legal protections afforded by the document, the former deputy minister cannot be detained or placed into temporary arrest on Polish territory. The defense counsel noted that the European Arrest Warrant previously issued against Romanowski will also expire as soon as the court order takes full legal effect.

Justification and assessment of procedural risks

In explaining its decision, the Warsaw District Court established that issuing the safe conduct letter at this stage of the investigation serves the public interest and the broader administration of justice. The court concluded that there is currently no legitimate concern that Romanowski would engage in evidence tampering or obstruction of justice.

The court also observed that other co-suspects appearing in the ongoing investigation are not currently held in pre-trial detention. Proceeding with the criminal inquiry while Romanowski participates directly in court and prosecutorial sessions was deemed advantageous for clarifying the case without unnecessary delays.

Foreign location and defense representations

The formal application for the safe conduct letter reached the court in August 2026, with case records indicating that the physical dispatch originated from Tiraspol in Transnistria. The Warsaw District Court determined that the absence of definitive confirmation regarding Romanowski's presence in Transnistria was irrelevant to the ruling, as legal statutes require only verification that the suspect is outside Polish borders.

Lewandowski stated that his client had always maintained a readiness to take part in domestic proceedings, provided he could do so while remaining at liberty.

There is a willingness on Romanowski's part to appear before the prosecutor [...], my client expresses such a will, so that it takes place on fair terms.

The defense attorney expressed absolute confidence regarding Romanowski's planned journey back to Poland once the legal conditions are fulfilled.

I have no doubt that Marcin Romanowski will come to Poland.

Objections from the National Public Prosecutor's Office

The National Public Prosecutor's Office formally opposed the defense application throughout the court review. State prosecutors argued that Romanowski's exact location outside the country had not been sufficiently verified and asserted that his prior procedural behavior provided no guarantee that he would adhere to the terms of a safe conduct order.

A letter of safe conduct requires a suspect to sign a formal pledge committing to appear on time for every summons issued by the prosecution or the judiciary. In addition, the recipient cannot leave a designated domestic residence without express permission from the court and is strictly prohibited from unlawfully obstructing criminal proceedings.

Scope of the Justice Fund allegations

Romanowski is a key suspect in the wide-ranging criminal investigation into alleged irregularities within the Justice Fund. The prosecution alleges that the former deputy minister participated in an organized criminal group and unlawfully rigged grant allocation competitions funded by the public entity.

Prior to the safe conduct ruling, Polish judicial authorities had issued both a domestic arrest warrant and a European Arrest Warrant to secure his capture abroad. With the safe conduct granted, the prosecution and the defense will now proceed with investigative actions in Poland once the judicial order enters into force.