Krzysztof S. of the Civic Coalition (KO) was convicted by a final court ruling for attempted fraud and forgery of a signature. Despite this, he continued to serve as Deputy Chairman of the Żyrardów City Council for more than a year and a half without facing consequences. The court claims it “did not know” about his public office and therefore failed to send the relevant information to the election commissioner. The case exposes what critics describe as a network within Mazovian local governments where convicted politicians continue to hold office and receive public funds for years, while party leaders claim they barely know them.
Daniel Śmieciński, a journalist for Telewizja Republika, reported that “Krzysztof S. (KO), the deputy chairman of the Żyrardów City Council who had been convicted by a final court judgment, has finally ended his role in local government.”
The verdict became final on November 13, 2024. Yet his mandate was only revoked more than 18 months later, the journalist pointed out. He also raised the question of whether Krzysztof S. remains a member of the Civic Coalition. Following that lead, further details emerged.
Local government official with a criminal conviction
As it was established, Krzysztof S. was convicted by a final judgment issued on April 25, 2024. He was found guilty of providing false information to a bank in order to obtain financial gain. The case involved an attempt to secure money on the basis of a false declaration and a forged employment certificate used in an effort to obtain a loan. The ruling became final on November 13, 2024. The court proceedings themselves had lasted an unusually long time, beginning in 2014.
Despite the final conviction, his council mandate was not revoked until more than a year and a half later. Why was he able to continue serving and collecting a councillor’s allowance during that period?
According to information obtained by the publication, after the judgment became final in November 2024, the Warsaw-Mokotów District Court failed to notify any relevant authority, including the election commissioner.
The situation changed only after intervention by Law and Justice (PiS) MP Wioletta Kulpa. In a response to her inquiry, the vice president of the Warsaw-Mokotów court stated that a copy of the judgment was sent to the election commissioner only on May 29, 2026.
Most surprising, however, was the court’s explanation. According to the response, the court claimed it had not been aware that Krzysztof S. was a local councillor.
The case came close to ending without any practical consequences. On November 13, 2026, the conviction would have become expunged. Critics argue that the matter may have been allowed to drift quietly toward that date.
Kierwiński distances himself
Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński, who has long been associated with political appointments in local governments across Mazovia, sought to distance himself from Krzysztof S. during a press conference on Monday.
“Yes, he is one of the Civic Coalition activists in Żyrardów. My connection with him is that I know who he is. He appeared during election campaigns. The relationship is very loose. There are many politicians from Mazovia who take photographs with me,” Kierwiński said.
The article argues that this account does not reflect the full extent of their connections and promises to present additional details in a future publication.
Kierwiński also stated that if reports of Krzysztof S.’s conviction were confirmed, he would be suspended from party membership and subsequently expelled.
“Those are the standards in the Civic Coalition,” Kierwiński declared.
Not an isolated case
According to the report, the case of Krzysztof S. is not unique. Another politician associated with Kierwiński in Mazovia is said to have continued serving in local government despite a criminal conviction.
The article points to Andrzej Wilk, the current head of Żyrardów County, who was convicted in 2015 but successfully ran for county councillor in 2018. MP Wioletta Kulpa subsequently asked the National Electoral Commission (PKW) to explain how such a situation could occur.
The chairman of the PKW, Sylwester Marciniak, reportedly replied that candidates for councillor, mayor, or city president are not routinely verified.
“Only when a whistleblower comes forward or information emerges creating justified suspicion of a crime does the appropriate procedure begin. In this case, no one verified Mr. Wilk, just as no one verified Mr. S.,” Kulpa told Niezalezna.pl.
Another controversial case
The article also recalls a similar controversy from last year.
Sylwester Ziemkiewicz, head of Płock County and a politician from the Polish People’s Party (PSL), was convicted by a final judgment for driving under the influence of alcohol. Under the law, he should have immediately ceased holding office.
However, according to the report, the PO–PSL majority in the county council found a way around the regulations by amending county rules. Ziemkiewicz ceased to be a full-time local government employee but continued performing his duties, including making decisions on the suspension of driving licences for motorists caught driving under the influence.
Proposed legislative changes
Wioletta Kulpa, together with a group of PiS MPs, plans to submit a bill to the Polish parliament this week that would require every candidate seeking local government office to present a certificate of no criminal record from the National Criminal Register before assuming office.
