On Friday at 10 a.m. there will be a gathering of the Parliamentary Committee of enquiry for Pegasus, during which the proceeding of erstwhile Minister of Justice and lawyer General Zbigniew Ziobra was scheduled. This will be the eighth effort to conduct his hearing. In addition to Ziobra, on Friday there was besides a proceeding of erstwhile Military Counterintelligence Chief Piotr Bącz and erstwhile Deputy Head of that Service Marek Utracki. A witness proceeding was scheduled at 12 p.m. during a secret hearing.
The president of the committee, Magdalena Magoka (PSL), pointed out that Ziobro was present at the Wednesday session of the Sejm and was informed of the planned date.
Of course, we don't anticipate him to come in voluntarily for questioning. But if he doesn't come on Friday, we're going to request that he be brought after his immunity has been waived. So we're entering a procedure we've already worked. said Magdalena Magpie.
Previous sample
At the request of the committee of inquiry, the Warsaw territory Court decided to force Zbigniew Ziobra to be brought to the committee gathering on 31 January. The Sejm so waived his immunity on 20 February. Ziobro was detained by the police on the same day. The committee gathering was due to begin at 10.30 p.m., but the politician did not appear in the Chamber on time, so the committee concluded that the lead was ineffective, and applied for a punishment of up to 30 days' imprisonment. This application was rejected by the Warsaw territory Court.
The last, seventh proceeding date for Zbigniew Ziobry was set for June 5. Due to his absence, the members of the committee voted to the court to impose a fine of PLN 3 000 on him.
Illegal commission?
Zbigniew Ziobro, like another representatives of Law and Justice, questions the legality of the action of the Sejm's committee of inquiry, citing the decision of the Constitutional Court of September of last year, which concluded that the resolution of the Sejm on the appointment of the committee was incompatible with the Constitution.
The intent of the committee of inquiry's parliamentary work is to find whether the usage of Pegasus' surveillance strategy by the government, peculiar services and police during the PiS regulation period was done in accordance with the law. The Commission is besides to explain who was liable for purchasing this software and akin tools for Polish institutions. According to the erstwhile findings, including those provided by the ultimate Chamber of Control, the Pegasus strategy was acquired in autumn 2017 by the Central Anti-corruption Office and the main origin of backing was a subsidy of PLN 25 million coming from the Justice Fund, which was subject to the Ministry of Justice.
