Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called it “shameful” that former deputy justice minister Marcin Romanowski had held public office. Asked about a possible “iron letter,” a legal safe-conduct arrangement that could let him attend questioning without immediate arrest, Tusk said his greater concern was that Romanowski face justice, whether he is found or continues to remain in hiding.
Romanowski is under investigation over alleged irregularities in the management of the Justice Fund. Prosecutors accuse him, among other things, of leading an organised criminal group and manipulating competitions for public grants. After he failed to appear when summoned, courts issued a domestic arrest warrant and a European Arrest Warrant. Romanowski was granted political asylum in Hungary, which was later revoked, and his identity documents were invalidated.
Polish media reported that court papers were sent from Tiraspol, the capital of the Russian-backed breakaway region of Transnistria. The defence has said Romanowski will appear in Poland if a decision granting an iron letter becomes final. Prosecutors plan to appeal. Tusk said he was not an expert on the legal mechanism. The allegations against Romanowski remain subject to court proceedings.