Michał K. (name withheld due to Polish privacy laws) was detained during his stay in London on Monday after a Warsaw court issued a European arrest warrant (EUAW).

However, since the EUAW provisions apply no more in the UK after Brexit, Michał K. was arrested on the grounds of provisions on criminal matters of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement concluded between the European Union and the United Kingdom in 2023.

Among the charges against the former head of the Government Agency for Strategic Reserves are abuse of authority and acting to the detriment of the public interest by awarding lucrative public contracts without a tender.

The London Borough of Westminster Magistrates' Court set the extradition hearing for February 17-19 next year.

The court rejected bail guarantees offered by the suspect’s attorney, arguing that they were insufficient given the seriousness of the charges and the risk that the suspect would attempt to flee.

Michał K., who faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, will be able to apply for bail again at the next hearing.

The case is one of several forming part of a Polish probe into what the government says are criminal and unconstitutional acts committed by its predecessors.