Pruszków mafia behind bars - pending appeal

A Warsaw local court has sentenced the five men who allegedly led the so-called Pruszków mafia. "Bolo", "Kajtek", "Parasol", "Wańka" and "Malizna" all received sentences ranging from six and a half years up to seven years and three months in prison. However, the sentence is not binding. The court charged a total of thirteen people, out of which eight were ordinary gang members. The Pruszków organized crime ring ran extortion rackets, drug dealing and prostitution and other criminal activities across the whole country. The gang's bosses were found guilty thanks to the confessions of eight crown witnesses, among which was Jarosław S. vel. "Masa". Most of the public in the court were the families and friends of the convicted. Due to this fact, the suspects, public and the court were separated by bulletproof glass. (www.polskieradio.pl; Rzeczpospolita, pp. A1, A5) M.M.