Former Polish Justice Minister accused of misusing public funds to purchase spyware

29 октября 2025 г., 19:15

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Former Polish Justice Minister accused of misusing public funds to purchase spyware

Polish prosecutors are seeking to charge Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro with misusing public funds and purchasing Israeli spyware Pegasus, allegedly to target opposition politicians.

According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, the prosecutor general has filed a motion to lift Ziobro’s parliamentary immunity, allowing him to be arrested and charged with 26 offenses, including establishing and leading a criminal group, misappropriation of funds, and abuse of power.

Ziobro, who served as justice minister from 2015 to 2023, is accused of “leading an organized criminal group” that diverted PLN 150 million ($41.2 million) from the Justice Fund to buy Israeli surveillance software, spokeswoman Anna Adamiak said at a press conference. The allegations are based on witness statements, suspect testimonies, grant documentation, materials from the Supreme Audit Office, and electronic data.