Optimus appeals for leniency

Optimus' management does not agree with the decision. "The punishment is exceptionally severe and [disproportionate] for the alleged offense. It is to the detriment of small shareholders, who own some 60 percent of the shares," said Piotr Lewandowski, president of Optimus.

KPWiG punished Optimus when it found out that the IT firm quietly issued a packet of shares worth zł.1 each, while their price on the WSE reached zł.9. The procedure allowed the owner of a company that assembles computers for Optimus to to buy the shares and take over control of Optimus. The company informed KPWiG about the issue once it was completed.

The prosecutor's office is investigating the case for fraud.