The continuing case of Erwin K., one of the cleverest criminals in Poland

The court in Bydgoszcz in northern Poland has failed to reach a verdict in the case of a man it describes as one of the most intelligent criminals in the country. Erwin K. has appeared in court three times, but on each occasion there has been a bomb scare, later proved to be a hoax, and the court has had to be evacuated. Police describe the occurrences as a new "criminal patent", while the court speculates that the accused has found some means of contacting his gang from within prison. Thirty-nine year old Erwin K., from Gorzow Wielkopolski in central Poland, is accused of attempting to obtain zl.4.5 million by fraudulent means from Citibank, using fake credit cards. Other charges against him relate to an attempt to hijack a truck carrying cigarettes, and to failing to pay for large amounts of goods obtained on credit. In one of his most notorious crimes, Erwin K. is accused of ordering for himself several luxury carpets, and having the bill sent to the Prime Minister's office. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 4) P.W.