Polish President Nawrocki Faces Scandal Over Alleged Prostitution Scheme: Key Witness Testifies

WARSAW – Polish President Karol Nawrocki is set to testify in court on January 18, 2027, in a case relating to his past employment at the upscale Grand Hotel in Sopot. On October 27, 2026, his former colleague Natasza Geldon appeared before the court to recount an incident that allegedly took place almost two decades ago. Geldon claimed Nawrocki once offered her the chance to earn extra money by bringing women to hotel guests. President Nawrocki denies any involvement in prostitution and has filed a lawsuit against the publisher of the Onet news portal, which initially reported the case.

The case has resurfaced in Polish public discussion following recent witness testimonies before the Warsaw court.

It is important to note that in this trial, Nawrocki is not facing criminal charges related to pimping. Instead, he is the plaintiff in a civil defamation suit, aiming to protect his personal reputation.

The court will determine whether the published allegations unlawfully damaged his honor and reputation.

Former Colleague Describes Unusual Incident at the Hotel

Natasza Geldon worked with Karol Nawrocki on the security staff at the well-known Grand Hotel in Sopot, Poland.

According to Polish media, both were employed there during the summer seasons of 2006 and 2007.

Before the court, Geldon described an incident that she said made her uneasy at the time.

She claimed to have seen Nawrocki enter the hotel accompanied by a man and a woman.

The three allegedly took the elevator together to the floor with guest rooms.

Geldon explained that this behavior was atypical, as security staff usually did not escort guests to their rooms.

When Nawrocki returned, she said she decided to ask what had happened.

He Allegedly Offered Her Money for Bringing Women to Guests

The subsequent conversation became a central aspect of her testimony.

Geldon testified that Nawrocki told her about the possibility of making extra money by bringing women to the hotel’s guests.

According to her, Nawrocki also asked whether she would be interested in such an arrangement.

Geldon said she refused the offer.

She viewed the entire situation as something contrary to the duties of hotel security.

However, she acknowledged that she did not witness any sexual services being provided.

She explained to the court that her suspicions about prostitution were based on her conversation with Nawrocki, not on direct observation of sexual acts or the exchange of money.

She also confirmed she was referring to a single, specific incident from nearly two decades ago.

This distinction is crucial: her testimony supports the claim that she received an unusual offer but does not alone prove the existence of an organized prostitution operation.

Another Witness Reported Prostitutes at the Hotel, But Not Nawrocki’s Involvement

Another former hotel employee also testified at the hearing.

Polish media report that he confirmed there had been prostitutes at the hotel in the past.

However, he did not confirm that Nawrocki was involved in systematically bringing them in or arranging their services.

He told the court he never saw Nawrocki calling prostitutes or making arrangements for their arrival.

His testimony therefore does not directly support the main accusation from the original article.

The witnesses’ accounts differ in terms of what they personally saw and what conclusions they drew from observed events.

The court will ultimately determine the evidentiary value of each testimony.

Scandal Emerged During Presidential Campaign

The media dispute began in May 2025.

The Polish news portal Onet published an article at that time focusing on Nawrocki’s past at the Grand Hotel.

Journalists Andrzej Stankiewicz and Jacek Harłukowicz cited former hotel security staff as their sources.

According to the information they obtained, Nawrocki allegedly participated in arranging prostitutes for hotel guests in the past.

The report was published on May 26, 2025, during the final phase of the presidential campaign.

Nawrocki denied the accusations and filed a lawsuit against Onet’s publisher, Ringier Axel Springer Polska.

He claims the published information damaged his reputation and dignity.

He is demanding a public apology from the publisher.

President Scheduled to Testify January 18, 2027

The civil case began in mid-September 2026.

The October 27 hearing was the first where the court allowed media attendance.

The case is being heard at the Warsaw Regional Court (Sąd Okręgowy w Warszawie).

Judge Aleksandra Orzechowska announced that the next hearing will take place on January 18, 2027.

On that date, Karol Nawrocki himself is scheduled to testify.

Due to the President’s official obligations, the court will allow him to testify by videoconference.

If he fails to participate without valid excuse, the court may forgo his testimony.

This summons should not be confused with criminal prosecution: Nawrocki is testifying in a civil case he himself brought. TVP INFO

Why Is the Court Examining Testimony From Former Employees?

The main issue in the dispute is whether journalists followed proper standards in handling and publishing serious allegations about Nawrocki’s character.

Onet’s publisher defends the reporting, pointing to sources who were also willing to testify in court.

Nawrocki’s legal team, on the other hand, questions the truthfulness and evidentiary basis of the published claims.

Geldon’s testimony confirms that at least one informant cited by journalists exists and has reiterated her claims under her own name in court.

This does not automatically mean that all findings of the original report are true.

The court will have to assess the credibility of the testimonies, the journalistic verification process, and the article’s content itself.

The Dispute Is Politically Significant in Poland

Karol Nawrocki won the 2025 presidential election as a candidate backed by the national-conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party.

He defeated Warsaw mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, who was supported by the Civic Coalition, in the second round.

Since taking office, Nawrocki has had a tense relationship with Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government.

The president and the ruling coalition differ on several domestic policy and legislative issues.

One example is an ongoing dispute over abortion legislation.

Aktualizovane.sk recently reported that Poland’s Sejm passed a measure relaxing abortion laws, with the president signalling a possible veto.

However, the court case involving Onet should be considered separately from political tensions with the government.

Nawrocki Maintains Contacts With Slovak Government

The Polish president is also known for his meetings with Slovak politicians.

In November 2025, he met with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.

The Slovak head of government described their discussions as constructive and highlighted shared values.

Aktualizovane.sk reported on the meeting in the article “Nawrocki congratulated Fico on Smer’s expulsion from PES; Prime Minister called the meeting constructive.”

The current scandal relates to the president’s history before he took Poland’s top office.

No Court Verdict Yet

After the October hearing, several key questions remain open.

The court must still evaluate each witness statement and hear directly from the president.

There is no evidence that Nawrocki personally organized prostitution or profited from it.

On the other hand, a former colleague has repeated her account under her own name regarding a conversation she claims occurred years ago at the hotel.

The next important date will be January 18, 2027, when the Polish president is expected to give his account of events that, nearly two decades on, have reached the courtroom.

Sources: Pravda, ČTK, PAP, Onet, TVP Info, Wirtualna Polska.

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This article was translated from the original Slovak version with the assistance of AI.