Trial of real estate corruption involving ex City President of Lodz begins

On Tuesday the trial against a former president of Lodz City Council, Marek C., council member Pawel P. and four other men, all of whom are charged with accepting bribes, began. Marek C. and Pawel P. stand accused, that through a company called Integro, they received bribes in return for securing fa vorable decisions for investors to construct hypermarkets in Lodz. According to the prosecutor, in this way a French concern was able to acquire plots in the city. In order to win the tender, Rudolf S. co-operating with the French investor, had to pay zl. 240,000 to Integro. Another bribe was paid by a subsidy of German Metro AG of zl. 60,000 in order to receive planning permission to build hypermarkets. Relevant documents, together with witness statements were presented as evidence. Clothing wholesaler, Maciej S. was the only member of the accused to plead guilty as charged. "If the truth was on the side of the prosecutor, than I would have had to corrupt half of all the town officials," said Pawel P. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 7) M.M.