Biznes Fakty
PFN: damage exceeding 30 million zlotys. There is a notification to the prosecutor's office
The current PFN board has reported that the damage to the assets of the Polish National Foundation is estimated to exceed PLN 30 million. This damage allegedly stems from the actions of the previous management from 2017 to 2024. A report concerning a potential crime has been submitted to the National Prosecutor’s Office.
The report indicates that the irregularities involve the signing of disadvantageous internal contracts and agreements with third parties, as well as the transfer of the foundation’s funds without adequate justification.
The notification regarding a possible crime, which was formulated by the Polish National Foundation, pertains to the actions taken by former PFN board members and high-ranking managers. It encompasses identified irregularities that, according to the PFN, may constitute unlawful activities and pertains to the years 2017-2024.
Funds misused against the statute
– We have submitted a notification regarding the suspicion of a crime based on audits that were conducted earlier – stated Maciej Szudek, the president of the PFN management board, during a conference on Friday.
– Nine months have elapsed since we took over as the new PFN management board, and we immediately began the process of reviewing previously conducted programs, particularly focusing on evaluating the appropriate use of PFN funds – he continued.
– While these audits are still in progress, I want to emphasize that what is happening today is not the conclusion of our efforts, as the audits are ongoing. The damage we have estimated is over PLN 30 million – he pointed out.
Prof. Tomasz Siemiątkowski mentioned during the conference that the notification was directed to the National Prosecutor’s Office due to the nature of the case and its societal significance, in addition to the scale of the damage, which surpasses the threshold defined by the Penal Code for significant damage by almost thirty times.
– This case is especially significant from a societal standpoint because the financial resources utilized by the Foundation originated from the founders, State Treasury companies, and were intended for economic development. However, many projects fell outside the Foundation’s objectives, resulting in funds being used contrary to both the founder’s intentions and the statutes of the Polish National Foundation – the lawyer noted.
Press conference of the Polish National Foundation PAPSolvere and „Fair Courts”
Siemiątkowski pointed out that the irregularities are related to „the actions of PFN, its former board members, and also the representatives of individuals authorized to act on behalf of the Foundation in projects such as 'Justice’, 'I Love Poland’ (previously known as Polska 100), and the Portal Polska and Polish Heritage East project.”
In the context of the „Justice” project, the notification pertains to „the establishment of collaboration by the Polish National Foundation with Solvere Sp. z o. o. and two media companies to execute the so-called 'Fair Courts’ campaign,” he stated. The losses incurred by the Foundation are estimated at PLN 8.4 million.
According to Siemiątkowski, regarding the second project – Polish Heritage East, more than PLN 12.5 million was allocated to a Lithuanian entity, which performed no activities for the project or the Foundation with these funds.
Polish National Foundation
The Polish National Foundation (PFN), founded in 2016, was intended to enhance Poland’s image internationally. Despite receiving millions of złoty annually from 17 state-owned enterprises, it has been challenging to identify measurable outcomes from this promotional activity funded by the public – a fact confirmed by the Supreme Administrative Court.
The yacht inscribed with „I love Poland,” purchased for one million euros, spent the majority of its time undergoing repairs in harbors. Additionally, Hollywood films promoting Poland were not produced, and social media profiles about Poland—created with over PLN 20 million paid to an American firm—are either not very popular or have been deleted.
PFN gained notoriety for contributing over PLN 8 million in 2017 to the „Fair Courts” billboard campaign, aimed at persuading the Polish public to support the judicial reforms of the United Right government. In June 2024, the prosecutor’s office initiated an investigation into the matter for possible abuse of power and neglect of duties by members of the PFN board.
READ MORE: Polish National Foundation: controversy after controversy
