PiS demand Piwnik answer questions over remarks on state witness scheme

Deputies representing the Law and Justice Party (PiS) are demanding an extraordinary meeting of the Sejm's Justice Commission where Justice M inister, Barbara Piwnik, is to explain her comments on the concept of state witness protection. "The institution of the state witness protection program has made the fight against organized crime much more effective [...]. Recent statements by Minister Piwnik could be seen as undermining the scheme," said Deputy Jacek Ziobro, referring to Piwnik's opinion that relying solely on state witnesses may prove to be dangerous in trials currently under way and that the whole idea "should be re-examined". Deputies from PiS are also dissatisfied with the ministry's supervision over major investigations, such as the case of the assasination of the Head of the Police, Marek Papala. "If she fails to answer our questions we could have grounds to ask for a vote of no confidence in the Sejm," said Deputy Marek Suski. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A5; Zycie, p. 5) M.K.