Poland: Rzeczpospolita case dropped

Posted by Bertrand Pecquerie on March 31, 2004 at 11:33 AM

Good news for the Press freedom in Poland: on 29 March 2004 the Polish prosecuting authority represented by the prosecutor office in Warsaw decided to drop the case against three members of the Presspublica management for having entered into business agreements to the detriment of the company. It was the Polish state-owned company PPW, a minority shareholder in Presspublica or Rzeczpospolita, that reported the three in June 2000.

The Polish prosecuting authority and the experts have not been able to prove or provide any documentary evidence of the alleged offences. In six different reports, four independent and reputable auditors ? both international and Polish firms ? have totally dismissed the basis for the allegations of breach of law.

To Jan Lindh, managing director of the company "Orkla Media as majority shareholder in Presspublica (through the subsidiary Presspublica Holding Norway AS) has had and has complete confidence in the management of Presspublica. It was expected that the prosecuting authority would drop the case, and it will be noted."

At the same time, several other investigative actions carried out against journalists at Rzeczpospolita by the office of the prosecutor, and which Orkla Media regard as being serious machinations against the freedom of press in Poland.

Source: Jan Lindh, managing director of Orkla Media.

Posted in :