Apprehension of Modrzejewski "probably avoidable"

National Prosecutor Karol Napierski admitted Friday that "it was probably possible to avoid the spectacular apprehension of former PKN Orlen President Andrzej Modrzejewski [by State Protection Office (UOP) officers]." Deputies from the Sejm Treasury Commission questioned Napierski about the controversial apprehension of Modrzejewski which took place the day before the PKN Orlen supervisory board meeting that dismissed him. Napierski said that allegations of political influence were false because the prosecutors in charge of the Modrzejewski investigation were not aware that PKN Orlen's supervisory board was to meet on the day following his apprehension. "All the newspapers wrote about this," one of the deputies noted. "Well, the prosecutors don't have time to read all the newspapers," replied Napierski. Members of the Commission were displeased that Justice Minister Barbara Piwnik was unable to attend the meeting, despite being able to call Napierski in the middle of it. (Rzeczpospolita, Feb. 23-24, p. A3, Gazeta Wyborcza; Feb. 23-24, p. 5) T.J.