Illegal stay of Ukrainians and bribes at the office. There is a judgment of the court in Wrocław

According to the indictment, four women - Dorota L., Ewa K., Beata T. and Inna A., a Ukrainian citizen - were to organize the illegal stay of Ukrainians in Poland from January 2019 to January 2020. The prosecutor's office accused them of operating in an organized criminal group, but the court did not share this opinion.

The actions of Inna A. and Dorota L. were organized, but not in a criminal group - emphasized Judge Tomasz Kaszyca in the justification of the judgment.

Fake invitations and bribes

As the court found, the practice involved obtaining false invitations for Ukrainians wishing to come to Poland. Then, by providing financial benefits to officials, the registration of invitations and the issuance of decisions legalizing their stay and work were accelerated.

According to investigators' findings, the clerks accepted several thousand zlotys, as well as some money in euros and dollars. The judge pointed out that at the Lower Silesian Voivodeship Office there were significant delays in issuing decisions and the procedures were not clearly regulated.

Prison sentences and fines

The court sentenced Inna A. and Dorota L. to one year and six months in prison. The most severe sentence - two years' imprisonment - was given to official Ewa K. The second employee of the office, Beata T., was sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for two years. All women must also pay fines.

The defendant was also a Ukrainian citizen, Olena D., who – according to the prosecutor's office – paid a bribe of PLN 1,200. PLN to expedite the issuance of a work and residence permit for another of the accused, Natalia G. Both women were fined.

The judgment of the District Court in Wrocław is not final. The parties may appeal against it.