Polish court denies detention of Civic Coalition MP amid EU-funded tram corruption probe
The Katowice-East District Court rejected a request by the European Prosecutor's Office to place Civic Coalition MP Wojciech Król in pre-trial detention. He faces four corruption-related charges linked to EU-funded tram modernisation in the Upper Silesian metropolitan area.
A regional court in Katowice-East refused to order the pre-trial arrest of Wojciech Król, a member of the Civic Coalition, after the European Prosecutor's Office presented four corruption charges. The case centres on alleged irregularities in the modernisation of tram infrastructure in the Górnośląsko-Zagłębiowska Metropolia, a project funded by EU resources. Prosecutors say Król accepted benefits such as a trip to Thailand— which he contests— and the use of a Mercedes for trips to Italy, in exchange for influencing procurement specifications to match products of the WISS group.
He is also accused of facilitating contracts for the police, border guard, fire service and other state agencies, potentially limiting competition. The court’s ruling means Król remains free while the investigation continues. He has previously chaired a parliamentary sub-committee on service modernisation and currently heads the National Media Council.
Why it matters
The case highlights potential misuse of EU funds and political influence over public procurement in Poland.
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