Braun cited sick note in court, then appeared before Constitutional Tribunal; prosecutors seek verification

In brief

• Grzegorz Braun did not attend a Warsaw court hearing and submitted a medical certificate instead.
• Hours later he appeared in person before the Constitutional Tribunal, prompting prosecutors to seek verification of the certificate.
• ZUS is expected to get involved, but no decision had been reported yet.

Court absence and a sick note

European Parliament member Grzegorz Braun was due at a hearing in Warsaw on Friday. He did not attend, submitting a medical certificate instead. The Warsaw Regional Prosecutor's Office has asked for that document to be checked (Prokuratura sprawdzi zaświadczenie lekarskie Brauna. Odwołano rozprawy – Rzeczpospolita) (ZUS zajmie się Grzegorzem Braunem? Miał być w sądzie, a pojawił się przed TK – Onet).

The Warsaw-Praga Południe District Court cancelled two hearing dates in the case after receiving the certificate (Dla sądu chory, pod TK zdrowy? Prokuratura wkracza do akcji ws. Brauna – Wirtualna Polska).

Same-day appearance before the Tribunal

Several hours after the cancelled hearing, Braun was seen in person outside the Constitutional Tribunal, where he took part in a protest (Braun zasłonił się chorobą w sądzie, potem był pod TK. Teraz wkroczy ZUS – Business Insider Polska). The contrast between the excuse given to the court and his public presence drew prosecutors' attention.

What authorities want to check

According to reporting by TVN24, prosecutors want to verify the medical documentation behind the certificate. Business Insider Polska reports that the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) is expected to become involved, since sick-leave certificates fall within its remit. No ZUS decision or finding had been published at the time of reporting.

Open questions

It is not yet clear whether the certificate will be found to be valid, or what consequences, if any, will follow for the court case. The prosecutors' request is at the verification stage.