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Roman Giertych with Jaroslaw Kaczynski, 2007 in Warsaw
Photo: PETER ANDREWS / REUTERS
The Polish anti-corruption agency CBA has arrested former ultra-nationalist politician and lawyer Roman Giertych on suspicion of money laundering.
Giertych, who is active against the ruling national conservative party Law and Justice (PiS) in several cases, was taken into custody along with ten other people, said a spokesman for the Polish intelligence coordinator on Thursday.
The former Vice Prime Minister confirmed his arrest on Twitter.
Giertych's apartment was also searched as part of the investigation.
The spokesman ruled out a connection with the work of the lawyer against the ruling party.
The case is "purely criminal".
It was about "fraud in connection with a listed company" and "money laundering", it said.
The Polish Bar Council (NRA) expressed "very concerned" about the arrest of the former minister.
His clients include the former President of the European Council and current President of the European People's Party (EPP), Donald Tusk.
Controversial Polish judicial reforms in the context of the fight against corruption
Poland has been pilloried in the EU for years because of its judicial reforms.
Brussels accuses the right-wing conservative government in Warsaw of having weakened the independence of the judiciary.
Poland's government defends the measures, among other things as a fight against corruption.
In 2007, 49-year-old Giertych was with his party LPR for a short time in the PiS-led coalition government of then Prime Minister and current Vice Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski.
Giertych was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education under Kaczynski.
At that time he was particularly noticeable at EU level for his anti-homosexual statements and his aversion to abortion.
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jak / AFP / dpa
