A spokesperson for the State Mining Authority, which is investigating last week’s tragic coal mine explosion, has been dismissed for being drunk while in charge of company property.

On Tuesday, Edyta Tomaszewska reported at the police station in the southern city of Katowice that she had been assaulted and a company notebook had been stolen from her. Tomaszewska claimed that the notebook did not contain any important documents on the Wujek-Slask case – the explosion last Friday at the Silesian colliery in which 17 people died and about 40 were injured. Tomaszewska added that the notebook contained only the names of the members of a special investigation commission, which had been made public anyway.

The now ex-spokesperson is convinced that that the assault was related to the investigation on the explosion in the Wujek-Slask mine because during the attack the perpetrator said: “That’s for the mine.” 

Police are investigating the case. “While testifying at the police station Mrs. Tomaszewska was tested for blood alcohol content and it turned out that she had three per mills of alcohol in a breath sample,” said Jacek Pytel of the Katowice police.

After media revealed the information, Tomaszewska was dismissed from the post on the basis of “being drunk while being in possession of company items.” She will, however, continue working for the State Mining Authority in another capacity, it has been reported.

The explosion last Friday at the Wujek-Slask coal mine has raised the issue of violating security measures at Polish coal mines. (mg/mmj)