20:31 5 September 2019
ECHR: Polish authorities responsible for errors that led to Olewnik’s death
The Polish authorities are responsible for a series of serious police errors that led to the death of Krzysztof Olewnik, who was kidnapped in 2001, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg ruled in an unanimous decision. The court decided that Poland should pay €100,000 to Olewnik’s family.
In April 2015, a complaint was filed by Olewnik’s sister and father. They claimed that the Polish authorities had failed to carry out an effective investigation into the victim’s kidnapping and assassination.
Olewnik was abducted from his home on the night of October 26-27, 2001. The perpetrators contacted the family dozens of times, demanding a ransom. In July 2003, €300,000 was handed over to them, but the kidnapped was not released. As it turned out later, a month after the criminals received the ransom, Olewnik was murdered.
In March 2008, a court sentenced two killers to life imprisonment. Eight other defendants were sentenced to up to 15 years in prison. Three of the perpetrators committed suicide while serving their sentence.
(PAP)
