Piotr Misztal, a former Self Defence deputy, has been sentenced to two years probation and fined half a million zlotys (230,000 euro) for tax fraud. 

Misztal suggested the punishment himself to escape a more severe verdict by the court in Krakow.  

The former Self Defence MP was accused of tax fraud to the amount of over 1,5 million zlotys (350,000 euro) to the detriment of the State Treasury.

He denied the accusations but agreed to be punished because, “sometimes the cost of proving innocence is too high”, he said.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office in Krakow wanted to charge Misztal two years ago, but he had left for the US. The office issued an arrest warrant for him but he failed to show up and returned to Poland only in April 2008 after he had received a writ of immunity.

Misztal was the richest MP in the previous parliament, famous for his extravagance. After a few months in parliament, he left Self-Defence party. (mg/pg)