Millions in tax revenues may have been lost in highway construction scam

The Treasury Audit Office (UKS) in Opole is conducting an investigation into alleged irregularities in the construction of the final section of the Wroclaw to Nogowczyce highway. The 3.6 kilometer stretch of road was opened yesterday in the presence of Transportation Minister Jerzy Widzyk. It is estimated that losses of at least zl.8 million may have been caused to the Treasury by one of the foreign contractors avoiding the payment of taxes. The company is alleged to have created an overseas subsidiary to which it subcontracted services, paying it an exorbitant rate for the work. According to a source quoted by Rzeczpospolita, by overestimating the costs involved, the company reduced the amount of income tax it was supposed to pay. The UKS in Opole and the Finance Ministry have declined to comment on the affair. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B1) P.W.