Poland seeks ex-MP now on U.S. visit

WARSAW, Poland, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Polish prosecutors are seeking to press tax fraud charges against a former lawmaker said to be in the United States visiting his ailing mother.

The prosecutor's office in the southern Polish city of Krakow has issued an arrest warrant for Piotr Misztal, a former parliament member of the small rural Self-Defense party that participated in the former coalition government, Polish radio reported.

Misztal reportedly is in the United States to see his mother, who is receiving chemotherapy. If Misztal returns to Poland Jan. 21, as he claims he intends, he will be arrested, Polish radio said.

Misztal was charged with tax fraud of $882,000 while allegedly leading a criminal ring that forged invoices in Krakow, Lodz and in other cities from 2003-06.

The radio report said Misztal was one of the wealthiest people to have served in the former Polish Parliament.