Polish prosecutors charge three former Orlen managers over 1.5 billion PLN oil contract fraud

Charges filed

On 7 August 2026, the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Warsaw filed an indictment with the Warsaw District Court against three former Orlen managers accused of causing 1.5 billion PLN (378 million USD) in damages to the state-owned company. The accused are Michał R., former board member of Orlen SA; Marcin O., former board member of Orlen Trading Switzerland GmbH (OTS GmbH); and Filip W., former executive director of both Orlen SA and OTS GmbH. All three face up to 25 years of imprisonment. Prosecutor Mateusz Martyniuk, spokesperson for the Regional Prosecutor's Office, stated that the three acted in concert by failing to fulfil their duties to supervise and protect the assets of Orlen SA and its capital group, including OTS GmbH.

The alleged scheme

The damage resulted from three unfavorable oil purchase contracts signed between 21 August and 21 December 2023, classified under articles 296 § 1 and 3 of the Polish penal code. According to naTemat.pl, the contracts were described as fictional, and TVP Info reported that Orlen paid over 1.5 billion PLN in advance for oil that never arrived in Poland. The money could not be recovered. Filip W. faces an additional charge of hiding his assets to prevent seizure for damage compensation or confiscation of criminal proceeds, under article 300 § 2 of the penal code.

Custody and the Samer A. case

In December 2024, a Warsaw district court ordered the temporary arrest of two former OTS board members, Samer A. and Marcin O., after both were found to be abroad. Marcin O. is now in Poland, and Filip W. was released from custody. The prosecutor's office separated the case of Samer A., former CEO of OTS GmbH, into a distinct proceeding because he remains at large. Poland has filed an extradition request with the United Arab Emirates and is awaiting its execution. According to naTemat.pl, Samer A. was detained in the UAE in January 2025 under an Interpol red notice. He has been linked to Hezbollah, a connection he denies, and to illegal oil trade with Iran.

Warnings ignored

In 2022, Poland's Internal Security Agency (ABW) attempted to block Daniel Obajtek, then Orlen CEO, from appointing Samer A. as head of the Swiss subsidiary. TVP Info reported that Orlen's own security bureau had warned not only about Samer A. but also about inadequate safeguards for the Swiss company. The ABW, which has been leading the investigation in its entirety since 2024, stated that the case involved months of work, dozens of procedural actions, evidence analysis, and arrests of suspects.

Political reactions

Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek commented on the indictment, congratulating prosecutors on their work.

1.5 billion zlotys. A lot, right? Three managers from Daniel Obajtek's time caused this level of damage to Orlen, according to the Prosecutor's Office. Today the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Warsaw filed an indictment against them. They face up to 25 years in prison. At the same time, suspect Samer A. is still being sought, the president of OTS, which funneled 1.5 billion out of Orlen. I congratulate the prosecutors on their work.

Deputy Marshal of the Sejm Monika Wielichowska linked the case to the previous government's rhetoric about economic patriotism.

1.5 BILLION ZLOTYS. Not millions. According to the prosecutors, this is the damage that three "managers" from Daniel Obajtek's time caused to Orlen.

Government spokesperson Adam Szłapka described the indictment as concerning a PiS-era fraud at Orlen amounting to 1.5 billion PLN, with three former managers facing trial and up to 25 years in prison.