In an unexpected discovery, the Supreme Administrative Court’s building in Warsaw, Poland, became the center of a startling investigation. Hidden within the ventilation ducts and technical flooring, high-powered computers were found, purposed for cryptocurrency mining. This incident has drawn the attention of both the prosecutor’s office and the Internal Security Agency, as reported by TVN Warszawa.
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According to the Polish media reports, the concealed computers, often referred to as “miners,” were discovered between August and September by a technical employee. These devices, designed to mine cryptocurrencies for trading, were strategically placed in hard-to-reach areas within the building’s infrastructure. The court had terminated its contract with the maintenance company responsible for the building’s technical services just weeks before the discover.
Investigation and Implications
The fact-finding mission led by Judge Sylwester Marciniak, head of the Court Information Department of the NSA, confirmed the presence of these devices. The police were notified by the Supreme Administrative Court and took action, dismantling and securing the electronic equipment. The secured computers were equipped with modems, suggesting they were not connected to the court’s public network, making them harder to detect. However, Judge Marciniak assured that the data security of the court was not compromised – TVN Warszawa reports.
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The focus of the ongoing investigation by the Warsaw Śródmieście-Północ District Prosecutor’s Office is not the mining itself but the theft of electricity—a crime under Article 278 paragraph 5 of the Penal Code. No charges have been filed yet, as the proceedings are still in the fact-finding phase. Experts in IT and electrical power consumption have been appointed to determine the amount and value of the stolen electricity.
