Polish Olympic chief arrested in Zondacrypto probe

Polish prosecutors detained Radosław Piesiewicz, the president of the Polish Olympic Committee, on Thursday, August 27, 2026, as part of a criminal investigation into the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange Zondacrypto. Justice Minister and Prosecutor General Waldemar Żurek confirmed the arrest, stating that Piesiewicz was taken into custody at the Silesian Department of the National Prosecutors Office. The detention marks a significant development in a broader probe into suspected large-scale fraud and money laundering linked to the exchange, which collapsed earlier this year.

Piesiewicz faces charges of paid influence and favoring certain creditors over others as insolvency approached, according to Żurek. The investigation centers on allegations that the Olympic official accepted bribes, including a luxury Patek Philippe watch valued at approximately 40,000 euros, from Zondacrypto's former CEO, Przemysław Kral. In return, Piesiewicz is accused of using his influence to assist the exchange with regulatory issues, particularly involving Poland's Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK). Prosecutors are also examining whether Piesiewicz received preferential treatment...