Mirosław Drzewiecki, former sports minister of the ruling Civic Platform party, suspected of involvement in corruption deals with the gambling industry businessmen, who was supposed to be questioned today, evaded the interrogation, after he informed the committee that he has a severe sore throat and cannot speak long. 'He is overcome with fear,' commented a member of the investigative committee, Bartosz Arłukowicz.

Drzewiecki did not present any doctor's note, as it was not required in the case of a parliamentary investigative committee. Head of the committee, Mirosław Sekuła of the Civic Platofrm party, accepted the excuse and ordered the interrogation to be postponed until next week.

Two committee members accused the committee head that the delay may be an attempt on his part, to favor suspects, who are his party colleagues:'I want to point your attention to this and to agree with Mr. Arlukowicz on this. Isn't it the case that somebody is ordering you to arrange events in such a way that the witness can be in good physical shape after a good night's sleep, all made up, while the committee is tired and physically exhausted, without access to case documents, without an opportunity to consult the prosecutor about the plan of investigation?' said Beata Kempa during the session of the committee.

Yesterday another major suspect, Zbigniew Chlebowski, formerly a high official of the ruling Civic Platform party, was interrogated at the parliament. In a two hour speech he denied all the charges. (jn)