On Thursday, March 29, agents of the Central Anti-corruption Office (CBA) detained Błażej S., erstwhile press spokesperson of the president of Poland Andrzej Duda, on irregularities at the Collegium Humanum. This is the next phase in the investigation into this private university, which offered high-speed MBA courses and another programs to facilitate the acquisition of diplomas frequently utilized for promotion in the structures of the Treasury companies.
The CBA has so far detained respective twelve people associated with irregularities at Collegium Humanum. The charges have already been heard, among others, by erstwhile Euro MP Karol Karski and president Jacek Sutryk. Błażej S. has been a associate of Law and Justice since 2004. In 2018, he was appointed Secretary of State in the Chancellery of the president and spokesperson for the president's press. In September 2021, he finished working in these positions and at the same time became the President's social advisor on 1 October of the same year.
The Collegium Humanum affair is not only a substance of corruption, but besides of fraud and abuse of power. This university offered diplomas without a appropriate educational process, and their credibility was to be ensured by cooperating abroad universities, which in fact did not have the authority to do so. This is only the beginning of an investigation that can cover many more people and institutions.
According to CBA data, over 1,500 diplomas were awarded between 2018 and 2021 by Collegium Humanum, of which more than 70% were awarded without an adequate educational process. This means that more than 1,000 people have received diplomas that have no value. CBA estimates that losses incurred by the State Treasury may be as much as PLN 100 million.
Collegium Humanum is besides a political issue. Blissier S. was not only the president's press secretary, but besides the Secretary of State at the President's Chancellery. That means he had access to delicate information and he could influence the president's decisions. The CBA will gotta find whether Blażej S. had cognition of irregularities at Collegium Humanum and whether he acted in consultation with another people.
Collegium Humanum is besides a social issue. Degrees granted by this university were frequently utilized to advance the structures of the Treasury companies. This means that irregularities in Collegium Humanum may have affected the safety and stableness of these companies. The CBA will gotta find whether irregularities in Collegium Humanum affect the economy and society.
It is worth noting that CBA operates independently and objectively. CBA agents are trained to prosecute crimes and irregularities. The CBA is besides subordinate to the Minister of peculiar Services Coordinator, which means that CBA activities are coordinated with another peculiar services.
In conclusion, the Collegium Humanum affair is simply a complicated and complex case that requires further investigation. The CBA will gotta find whether irregularities in the Collegium Humanum have an impact on the economy and society and whether those liable for irregularities will be punished. Collegium Humanum is besides a reminder that corruption and abuse of power are unacceptable in Poland.
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Collegium Humanum: How CBA agents and investigators break up a corruption network in Poland
