The European Court of Human Rights found that the Polish authorities should be held responsible for a succession of serious errors by the police in investigating the kidnapping of Krzysztof Olewnik, which had ultimately resulted in his death. Furthermore, the Court held that Poland was to pay the family 100.000 euros in respect of non-pecuniary damage.
The Court found that the Polish authorities should be held responsible for a succession of serious errors by the police in investigating the kidnapping of the applicants’ relative, which had ultimately resulted in his death.
The Court has also ruled that Poland should pay 100.000 euro to Olewnik's family.
The application was lodged with the European Court of Human Rights on 14 April, 2015.
The applicants, Danuta Olewnik-Cieplińska and Włodzimierz Olewnik, are Polish nationals who were born in 1974 and 1949, respectively, and live in Drobin (Poland).
Their relative, Krzysztof Olewnik, was kidnapped in 2001 when he was 25 years old. He was detained and ill-treated until 2003 when he was murdered, despite his family handing over the ransom demanded by the kidnappers via telephone messages and letters containing threats to his life.
His body was eventually recovered in 2006 when one of the kidnappers, named by a witness in 2005, confessed and indicated the burial place.
Ten gang members were ultimately convicted by final judgment in 2010. Their convictions were mainly based on confessions. At their trial they described keeping the victim chained to a wall by his neck and leg. He was also drugged, beaten and poorly fed.
The alleged gang leader and the two other main kidnappers died in detention before or just after their trial. Although their deaths were classed as suicides, after being investigated, they nevertheless led to the resignation of the Minister of Justice and a wave of dismissals in the prosecution and prison services.
Autor: gf / Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP, European Court of Human Rights
Źródło zdjęcia głównego: TVN24