Court fights against the clock in case against FOZZ scandal culprits

The biggest corruption case since 1989, involving the foreign debt servicing fund (FOZZ), finally recommenced in court yesterday. The scandal resulted in the state being cheated out of zl. 354 million. FOZZ was created in 1989 to buy back the national foreign debt at the most advantageous rates. The six who stand accused include, Grzegorz Zemek, the former general director of FOZZ, his deputy, Janina Chim and the former chariman of Universal, Daroiusz Przywieczerski, heard the charges read against them. Despite renewed attempts to delay the trial, it went ahead as planned. The court used the argument of public interest as grounds to disclose the full names and pictures of the accused. According to Lech Falandysz, a leading lawyer, the main question is whether the court can win the race against the clock, and to pass sentence before the case becomes time-barred. (Rzeczpospolita, pp. A1, C1) M.T.