Bydgoszcz SLD controlled municipality spent funds illegally

Between 2000-2002, the Bydgoszcz municipality controlled by SLD violated the law by injecting huge amounts of the city's money into the Polonia Bydgoszcz sports club. In return, the management of the club which was also associated with the SLD, co-financed the election campaign of the local SLD division and organized banquets for politicians. The result of these activities led to club's bankruptcy. The investigation has shown several irregularities, such as the fact that the same person submitted requests for donations in the name of the club and later agreed to these requests as a representative of town hall. Another issue was that the city covered all VAT expenses of the club. The head of the Bydgoszcz-based SLD, Zbigniew Bartel, announced that the case will be investigated today by the local party division. SLD Secretary General Marek Dyduch said that it will also be studied by the party's head office. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 3) A.K.