Mysterious death of Polish activist in Ecuador. Prosecutor seeks international legal assistance
The District Prosecutor's Office in Olsztyn requested international legal assistance from Ecuador to investigate the death of Monika Silva Veras Koniuszek, a Polish activist found dead in Montanita on 8 June.
Mysterious death of Polish activist in Ecuador. Prosecutor seeks international legal assistance
The Polish prosecutor's office requested international judicial cooperation from the authorities of Ecuador to clarify the circumstances of the death of a Polish citizen in South American territory. Anna Adamiak, spokesperson for the General Prosecutor's Office, confirmed that the victim's relatives will receive a preliminary report today on the results of the autopsy performed on Monika Silva Veras Koniuszek, according to Interia.
The District Prosecutor's Office in Olsztyn, which is in charge of the investigation, submitted a formal request for legal assistance to the Ecuadorian state. The document is in the process of being translated into Spanish and will be sent immediately through diplomatic channels. The request asks for the delivery of certified copies of documents collected during the investigation conducted by the Prosecutor's Office of the Santa Elena Region, including protocols of inspection of the crime scene, witness statements and expert opinions relating to the forensic examination. It also requests the submission of secured material evidence, within the limits permitted by Ecuadorian law.
Additionally, the spokesperson announced that the General Prosecutor's Office of Ecuador plans to organise a videoconference between prosecutors from both countries to exchange findings and coordinate investigations underway in each nation.
The deceased, a Polish national, resided in Ecuador where she directed the foundation La Integridad and reported cases of corruption in Santa Elena Province. On 8 June she was found dead in her residence in Montanita. She had previously reported receiving threats and feared for her safety.
The official cause of death has not yet been determined. Initially, the possibility of suicide was mentioned, as local police found marks on the neck consistent with ligature. However, Ecuadorian media reported that the woman had a head wound that someone would have caused her before death.
Currently, both the Polish and Ecuadorian prosecutors are conducting parallel investigations to determine the true circumstances of the death. In Ecuador are the relatives of the deceased, under consular protection from the Polish ambassador accredited in Lima, Peru.
Source: Interia