Police: former Jesuit and his accomplice accused of stealing art works and robbing 91-year-old woman

In late-August, a representative of a Jesuit College at Rakowiecka street notified the police about missing antique works of art - a cross on a stone pedestal, and three antique paintings from late 18th century, one showing Saint Ignatius of Loyola, a founder of the Society of Jesus. The value of the items has been estimated at 95,000 zlotys.

The police determined that a 57-year-old former Jesuit Artur F., who had moved out of the college on August 16-17, could be behind the theft. "Upon leaving the facility, he decided to take some things which weren't his. He asked his close friend for help in taking the items out. They ended up in his flat," Mokotów police spokesman Robert Koniuszy said.

The police arrested the 57-year-old and his 42-year-old accomplice Piotr N. at the end of August. Both lived in a flat in Mokotów, at which the missing items were also found.

"Criminal officers also discovered a personal and pensioner ID of a 91-year-old woman, as well as a notarial deed, according to which the said woman's all assets have been bequeathed to Piotr N. Many other documents belonging to the lady were found in the flat. The officers suspected the two may have defrauded the 91-year-old," Koniuszy said.

The police found the owner of the documents. The woman lived by herself in a flat in a tenement building in central Warsaw, and Piotr N. turned out to be the chairman of the property's homeowners association. He also had a notarial deed allowing him to represent the woman in any official business and asset issues. He was also receiving her pension from the postman. "The suspect claims he was using the money to do shopping and paying bills. He had no income of his own. He was unemployed," the police officer said.

The police determined that the lady had memory problems and social services assigned her a permanent caretaker, who was looking after her in designated hours. Furthermore, they found out that the woman, named Łucja, had married the 57-year-old Artur F. on August 18. The pair had sent a written request to the registry office to have the wedding as soon as possible and at the place of residence, due to the senior's mobility difficulties. Piotr N. was one of the witnesses at the wedding.

The suspects have been charged with stealing antique works of art, for which Artur F. has been placed under police custody. Piotr N. will also be held accountable for manipulating the 91-year-old into unfavourable use of her pension money in the amount of 9,100 zlotys, which he was taking between February and August, as well as for stealing 13,000 zlotys from the woman, her ID card and jewelry.

The prosecutor asked for temporary detention for Piotr N., but judge Agnieszka Jaźwińska decided that police custody for the suspect would be enough. She justified her decision stating that the suspect had no prior offences and that a prison sentence for the given charges would be highly unlikely. The judge also added that the missing items had been found, and the suspect had given a detailed statement.

Prosecutor Aleksandra Skrzyniarz appealed against the court's decision arguing it posed significant risk to the investigation.

Polish Press Agency found out that, after being released, the men went to the 91-year-old's place, but found the lady's social caretaker there. The woman notified the police a number of times claiming the suspects had tried to force her out of the flat. The 57-year-old former Jesuit also contacted social services, saying he was Łucja's husband and he would be taking care of her.

The investigators say the case is developing and do not rule out further arrests, as well as expanding the inquiry into other persons that may have been involved in the crime.