Well, well, well. The mayor of Opalenica, a town close to Poznan, Tomasz Sz., who once proudly flashed his Bronze Medal for Merit to the Police, is now wearing a different kind of bracelet—handcuffs. Yes, you read that right. The same man who boasted about keeping the town safe is now safely locked away, facing charges for taking bribes. But we’re not talking about pocket change here, folks. No, this “honorable” mayor allegedly pocketed a jaw-dropping 240,000 złotych in bribes. That’s a lot of zeros for someone who’s supposed to be serving the public, not milking it.

A Dishonest Mayor, and It’s Not Even Shocking Anymore

According to the Poznań prosecutor’s office, Mayor Tomasz Sz. got real cozy with the owner of a construction company, Krzysztof S., and they cooked up a scheme. It seems like when Tomasz wasn’t busy getting awards, he was busy falsifying documents to inflate the value of some road works. Because why settle for regular pay when you can grease the palms and get a little extra?

The mayor was detained last week, along with his shady business buddy, and the investigation reveals that Tomasz Sz. signed off on fake documents that authorized additional road work. These bogus approvals meant the contractor got paid more—way more—and Tomasz got a nice cut under the table. A cool 240,000 złotych, to be precise.

Oh, and get this—both of these stellar citizens confessed. That’s right, they folded like cheap lawn chairs under the pressure. But don’t worry, they’ll have up to 10 years behind bars to think about their poor life choices.

From Medals to Mugshots

Let’s rewind to 2017, when this same Tomasz Sz. was puffing out his chest, accepting a medal for keeping his town safe. He bragged about how his “close cooperation with the security services” made the residents of Opalenica feel all warm and fuzzy. Now, this ironic twist is almost too much to handle: the police he once proudly partnered with are the ones who marched into his office and led him out—in handcuffs. I guess his cooperation wasn’t quite as “close” as he thought.

What Now?

Tomasz Sz. has ruled Opalenica since 2014, and he won the most recent election in 2023 with 52.38% of the vote, securing 3,241 ballots in his favor. But I have to wonder, how are his loyal voters feeling now? Is this what they signed up for—another corrupt politician playing them for fools? The same guy they trusted to lead their town is facing 10 years in prison for greed and dishonesty.

As for his business partner in crime, Krzysztof S., he’s got police supervision and a hefty fine to keep him company, though he won’t be joining Tomasz in the slammer just yet.

So there you have it, folks. Another crooked politician, another betrayal. But hey, at least we know where those 240,000 złotych went!