Marian Banaś, former President of the Supreme Chamber of Control (NIK), heard allegations from the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Białystok. The case has been going on since 2019 and includes serious accusations of incitement to disclosure of fiscal secrecy and overriding powers. Banas pleads not guilty, and he calls it "political prosecution". What exactly is the prosecution accusing him of, and how does he react to it? Let us look at the details of this loud matter, which may have far-reaching consequences for the Polish judiciary and politics.
Background: From nomination to conflict with power
Marian Banaś is a character who entered the political stage as a trusted man of Law and Justice (PiS). In 2019, he was appointed president of NIK by the then majority parliament. However, the conflict quickly occurred – Banaś began to reveal irregularities in the PiS government's actions, which led to tensions. Already in the same year, the media reported doubts about his property statements, including underselling income from the lease of the building in Krakow. The investigation was initiated on the basis of communications from the Central Anti-corruption Office (CBA), the General Financial Information Inspector (GIIF) and Members of the Civic Coalition.
The case caught pace when the D.A. applied in 2019 to waive immunity for Banasi. The Parliamentary Rules Committee agreed, but the proposal was not put to the vote. In the spring of 2024, Attorney General Adam Bodnar withdrew it, arguing with the need to supplement the evidence. Following the end of Banasi's term of office in NIK, immunity expired automatically, which opened the way for charges.
The investigation includes not only Mariana Banasia, but also his family. The son of Jakub and Agnieszka's wife heard allegations of fraud to the detriment of the National Fund for the Revalorization of Krakow Monuments (about PLN 120 thousand) and VAT fraud (about PLN 80 thousand). The key character is also Tadeusz G., former Director of the Tax Chamber in Krakow, who admitted to revealing information covered by Banasi's tax secret.
Details of the charges: What is the prosecution charging?
On 12 November 2025, Marian Banaś was interviewed at the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Białystok. He was charged with three counts:
- Two charges of incitement to the disclosure of the IRS – It is about urging officials of the National Tax Administration (KAS) to provide information covered by the tax secret to an unauthorised person. According to investigators, Banas was thus to obtain data on the tax checks and CBA's activities concerning himself.
- One allegation of incitement to exceed powers or failure to fulfil duties by a public officer – In order to achieve a property or personal benefit. This accusation involves allegedly influencing officials to act in his favor.
The prosecution has not taken any preventive measures against Banasia, such as police supervision or property guarantees. A spokesman for the prosecution Zbigniew Szpiczko stressed that details of the crimes are not disclosed for the sake of the investigation.
Earlier investigations concerned underselling in tax returns for the years 2015-2020 of revenue from the lease of the building in Krakow. According to the prosecutor's office, Banaś reduced his income, which put the Treasury at risk of losing over PLN 50 thousand. These accusations were the basis for a motion to waive immunity in 2019.
Answer by Mariana Banasia: "This is a political assault"
The former NIK president did not plead guilty to any of the charges. According to his defender Marek Małecki, Banas provided explanations and considers the whole case to be a "continuation of political assault, no matter who decides the charges". He stressed that all the information he had until 2023 came from the public domain.
Just after the hearing Banas published a statement on platform X (formerly Twitter): "Media reported allegations against me. I got acquainted with their content and did not admit any of them. This is the result of the political campaign that the previous power started. I've already given proper explanations and will defend my good name and my family."
In Banas' post, it directly refers to the previous PiS government, suggesting that the charges are politically motivated. This is not the first time that he accuses the former power – he previously talked about wiretaps and surveillance by special services.
What's next? Possible consequences and public reactions
The investigation in Białystok continues, and so far none of its threads have ended with an indictment. If the charges are confirmed, Banasi is facing imprisonment. The matter is controversial – some see it as settlement with the past, others as political vengeance.
Public opinion is divided. On platform X post Banasia collected thousands of reactions, ranging from support to criticism. Political commentators stress that this is a test for the independence of the prosecution under the new coalition. Will the case end in trial, or will it be dropped? For now, it remains to wait for developments.
This scandal reminds how fragile the borders between politics and law in Poland are. Marian Banas, once loyal to the Law and Justice, became his critic, and now faces the consequences. Regardless of the outcome, this story will certainly influence the discussion of the transparency of public officials.
