Rapaczyńska to blame, say Rywin's lawyers as corruption case nears finale

Yesterday, Rywin's three defense lawyers put their case to the district court in Warsaw in a process that lasted almost five hours. The defendant's counsel tried to persuade the court that it was the president of Agora, Wanda Rapaczyńska, who instigated the whole affair. Indeed, Rywin himself added that he was just a victim of Rapaczyńska's machinations. The defense also questioned the credibility of certain items of evidence, claiming, for example, that the recording of Adam Michnik's conversation with Rywin had been manipulated. They appealed to the court to resist pressure from public opinion and acquit their client. The court will pass judgment on Monday. (Rzeczpospolita, pp.A1,A4; Gazeta Wyborcza, p.5) E.B.