Hungarian press reveals attempt to bribe Polish company in shipyard bid

Poland's ambassador in Budapest Jaroslaw Lindenberg has revealed that a Hung arian official demanded a $2 million bribe from Stocznia Szczecinska, at the time when the Polish shipyard was bidding to buy Hungary's Varna shipyard. T he affair became public after the news was published on Friday on the front page of the Monitor daily. According to the newspaper, Lindenberg was inform ed of the approach by the head of Stocznia Szczecinska, Arkadiusz Goj. The a mbassador immediately reported the matter to Hungary's deputy Prime Minister , Nicolai Vasyliev. The Polish company was a leading candidate for the Varna tender, but later withdrew. In the wake of the Monitor report, Vasyliev was asked by MPs to provide parliament with details of the affair. According to reports by MPs after the hearing, no names were revealed. However, Vasyliev is said to have indicated that the person responsible was a "very prominent figure", but that there was insufficient evidence to seek prosecution. (Rzec zpospolita, Oct. 20-21, p. A7) J.K.