Jacek Karnowski will continue as Mayor of Sopot following a referendum at the seaside resort on Sunday.  

Over 8000 people voted for Karnowski and almost 5000 against him. The turnout was a comparatively 40 percent.

The Prosecutor’s Office in Gdansk preferred eight corruption charges against Karnowski after it was revealed that in July 2008 he tried to bribe businessman Slawomir Julke, demanding two apartments in exchange for issuing a permit to rebuild a historic tenant house.

If found guilty Karnowski might spend up to ten years in prison.

The Prosecutor’s Office wanted to remove Karnowski from the post of mayor before the end of his term of office but, on his request, a referendum was conducted. (mg/pg)