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Now we learn from the same prosecutor’s office that there was another reason for the searches. According to the deputy district prosecutor in Płock, Monika Mieczykowska, the searches were aimed at securing documents related to suspicion of lowering fuel prices by the company.
Mieczykowska said on Friday that the evidence was secured as part of two separate investigations. She emphasized that all necessary documents have been secured and the collected evidence is currently being analyzed. She also added that further investigations will continue to gather additional evidence.
The investigation into suspected lowering of fuel prices by Orlen was started on January 17 this year. Covers the period from August 1 to October 31, 2023. and is to determine whether there has been abuse in order to lower fuel prices in relation to market prices.
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Doubts were also raised about the rates at Orlen stations applied at the end of 2022. Then, the matter was dealt with by, among others, Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK). In mid-2023, it assessed that the prices applied did not violate competition law provisions.
Made by the office analysis of deviations of PKN Orlen’s spot prices from reference points indicated that they were not high enough and at the same time not long-lasting enough to call the prices excessively high in accordance with previous decisions of the European Commission, national antitrust authorities, as well as judgments of the Polish Supreme Court and the Court of Justice of the European Union.
