Polish prosecutors have swooped on the staff of a district labor office in Masovia, who stand accused of corruptly facilitating the illegal entry of up to 12,500 migrants into Poland and the European Schengen Area.
Many from Asia and Africa are classified as ‘high risk,’ but were able to obtain visas unchallenged. According to border guard spokeswoman Dagmara Bielec, the three detained so far are two “high-ranking officials,” charged with participation in an organised criminal group, organising illegal border crossings, abusing their powers and failing to fulfil their obligations.
The arrests coincide with a parliamentary committee investigation into alleged corruption in Poland’s visa system under the previous Law and Justice (PiS) government, suspecting crimes were committed by 11 people, including former PM Mateusz Morawiecki. PiS and its supporters see the arrests as part of the current pro-Brussels Tusk government’s campaign of harassment against conservatives.
