An investigation was opened into Paweł Szopa, founder of the Red is Bad patriotic fashion brand, in December last year.

Prosecutors believe he conspired with the Government Strategic Reserves Agency (RARS) – a body tasked with ensuring sufficient stocks of critical resources – to secure contracts during the Covid pandemic.

He is accused of receiving hundreds of millions of zlotys in government contracts without the requisite tenders.

It is also alleged that companies linked to him received as much as half a billion zlotys (over €100 million) through contacts with the former head of RARS – named by authorities only as “Michał K.” due to reporting restrictions – who was arrested in September.

Poland is conducting an inquiry into alleged criminality under the previous government, led by the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party. Since the probe started in early 2024, criminal charges have been brought against more than 60 people associated with PiS.

Since October 10, Szopa has been the subject of an Interpol Red Notice, which requests law enforcement worldwide to locate and detain a suspect, as well as being on Poland’s wanted list and subject to a European arrest warrant.