Former CBA Official Charged in Pegasus Affair

The news in Polish

1. być
   Oznaczający coś, co istniało w przeszłości, ale już nie istnieje. ↩︎
2. oskarżyć
   Postawić komuś zarzuty za rzekome popełnienie przestępstwa. ↩︎
3. nadużycie  (n.)
   Sytuacja, w której ktoś korzysta z czegoś w sposób niezgodny z przeznaczeniem lub przekraczając bieżące uprawnienia. ↩︎
4. ujawnienie  (n.)
   Zdradzenie czegoś, co było dotąd ukryte. ↩︎
5. naruszenie  (n.)
   Działanie niezgodne z zasadami lub prawem. ↩︎
6. technologia  (f.)
   Dziedzina nauki i inżynierii zajmująca się rozwojem nowych urządzeń i procesów. ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: Who was Daniel K. accused of misusing information obtained through?

Question 2: What is the maximum prison sentence Daniel K. could face if convicted?

Vocabulary

Polish	English
być	former
oskarżyć	accused
nadużycie  (n.)	abuse
ujawnienie  (n.)	disclosure
naruszenie  (n.)	violation
technologia  (f.)	technology

Read the full story

In a significant turn of events, Daniel K., the former deputy head of the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA) in Poland, has been formally charged over the misuse of information obtained via the controversial spyware known as Pegasus. The charges, announced by the National Prosecutor’s Office, include the illegal disclosure of protected materials and abuse of power, potentially carrying a sentence of up to three years in prison.

The indictment stems from allegations that on 8 July 2020, Daniel K. unlawfully transmitted sensitive data to Bogdan Święczkowski, the then-National Prosecutor. This data, encompassing 15 DVDs, was reportedly acquired during operational surveillance involving lawyer Roman Giertych. The materials included confidential legal secrets that were not meant to leave the confines of the CBA.

Spokesperson Przemysław Nowak emphasized that these actions were detrimental to both public and private interests. In particular, they compromised the confidentiality rights between clients and their attorneys, a central component of legal ethics and rights in Poland. Furthermore, it was revealed that Święczkowski instructed another prosecutor to examine and duplicate the sensitive materials, intensifying concerns over the management and security of these documents.

The Pegasus spyware, developed by the Israeli company NSO Group, has been a focal point of controversy since revelations surfaced in December 2021. Investigations by Citizen Lab affiliated with the University of Toronto identified Senator Krzysztof Brejza as one of the individuals monitored by this technology during his tenure as campaign manager for the Civic Coalition in 2019.

Further adding to the intrigue, former Prime Minister Donald Tusk claimed via social media that his family, including his wife and daughter, were targeted by the surveillance operations, referring to such actions as politically motivated. Responding succinctly, Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of the ruling Law and Justice party, dismissed these accusations as “nonsense.” These developments continue as Kaczyński prepares to testify regarding separate inquiries into postal voting practices during Poland’s elections.

This unfolding saga highlights ongoing tensions and unresolved questions about the use of surveillance technology in political and legal spheres, raising broader implications for privacy and civil liberties in Poland.

Info: ‘Polish Learner News’ is a service from ‘Let’s Learn Polish’, a language school dedicated to offering comprehensive instruction in Polish. We provide a variety of online courses, including Polish language classes to cater to different learning needs.