Janusz T. aka Krakowiak was released from prison after spending more than 20 years behind bars. The release was made possible thanks a special court session at which all of his previous sentences were joined into a one single sentence of 15 years.
"Krakowiak" was initially supposed to leave prison in October 2021. However, on Tuesday, a court in Katowice, on the convict's request, joined all of his sentences into a single one of 15 years. As a result, the court also immediately released Janusz T. who left the prison in Tarnowskie Góry already on Tuesday.
Janusz T. was arrested in January 1999 together with several dozens of his gang's members. The last legally binding sentence of 15 years in prison for "Krakowiak" was passed in April 2019 in the main trial of his group.
Part of the charges against him and 9 of his accomplices will have to re-examined by the court of first instance. The Court of Appeals recognized appeals against the ruling of the district court from 2016 which sentenced "Krakowiak" for 25 years in prison.
The Court of Appeals had no doubts that the group led by "Krakowiak" indeed existed and committed multiple crimes. In the main trial, gang members were accused, among other things, of murder, armed robbery, arms trade and drug trafficking.
The first trial in this case took place in 2001. At the time, 36 people were sat in the dock, most of them were already sentenced for other crimes.
According to the prosecution, the criminal organisation led by "Krakowiak" was one of the most dangerous gangs in Poland. They were active between 1991 and 1999, mostly in southern Poland.
The investigators and the court underscore that the gang had an established structure and hierarchy with an undisputable leader and "sections" responsible for particular tasks. The group was cracked down thanks to the testimony of the protected witnesses whose credibility was being questioned throughout the trial by the defence and the accused.
Autor: gf / Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP
Źródło zdjęcia głównego: tvn24