Polish Olympic chief arrested as prosecutors probe suspected crypto-linked bribe
The head of the Polish Olympic Committee has been arrested amid a corruption investigation involving the cryptocurrency exchange Zondacrypto. Prosecutors are examining allegations that the official received luxury gifts in exchange for political influence, while the exchange itself faces separate probes regarding missing funds and fraud.
Why it matters
This case underscores the intersection of high-level sports administration, political corruption, and the regulatory challenges facing the cryptocurrency industry.
Justice Minister and Prosecutor General Waldemar Żurek confirmed the arrest and said further information would follow after Piesiewicz was questioned. Prosecutors have not disclosed any charges at the time of writing, though media outlets suggest Piesiewicz received bribes from the exchange.
A joint investigation by Wirtualna Polska and TVN24 alleged that Zondacrypto chief Przemysław Kral gave Piesiewicz a Patek Philippe watch worth about 40,000 euros ($46,600) and other gifts in return for help with the exchange’s problems with Poland’s competition regulator.
Piesiewicz denied receiving the watch as a gift, saying he paid for it in cash and Kral only helped arrange the purchase. Polish Justice Minister Żurek said the watch was one of the elements prosecutors would examine.
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