Unions write to PM accusing customs chief of financial mismanagement

Members of the Customs Service Trade Union have submitted an official complaint to Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek, accusing director of the Central Customs Office (GUC), Zbigniew Bujak, of financial mismanagement. Their complaint relates to the purchase of 138 photocopiers at a cost of zl.17,000 each, 100 passenger cars worth a total of zl.4 million, and a country mansion used for training dogs. The officers point out that border customs posts are desperately short of equipment. They also say they have found evidence that 700 customs officers will be made redundant in the near future. Mariusz Wierzbicki, the official responsible for the GUC's relations with trade unions, denies all the allegations. He has stated that only corrupt officers will lose their jobs, and that the cars were purchased for use by 17 different customs offices. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A4) M.T.K.