Prison sentence for torturing witnesses in drug-trafficking case
A court in Suwałki has ruled in the case of a group that abused two people to force them to give favourable testimony. The group's leader received over three years in prison.
Prison sentence for torturing witnesses in drug-trafficking case
The Regional Court in Suwałki has concluded criminal proceedings against four defendants accused of brutally treating two people who were to testify as witnesses in a trial concerning the trafficking of controlled substances. The ruling is final.
Everything began with the arrest of a man – the partner of a woman who later became the leader of the group of persecutors. A significant quantity of narcotics was found on him, which prompted prosecutors to conduct a broader investigation. During the inquiry, the authorities identified individuals who had purchased drugs from the arrested man.
In order to protect her partner from a harsher sentence, the woman decided to influence the testimony of two witnesses. She began to persecute them.
The most serious offences were committed on 11 May of the previous year. In the main defendant's residential premises, with the help of associates, one of the victims was detained. A blade weapon in the form of a machete was held to the victim's throat and he was threatened with the amputation of a limb. In addition, he was burned with a cigarette near his temple, forced to kneel and to make sounds resembling barking.
A tattoo was made on the victim's body with a pen – the symbol "60" was applied. The man was also kicked and was forbidden from leaving the premises.
The second person was subjected to similar treatment. The perpetrators forced him to remove his clothing, to be photographed naked and to inflict knife wounds on himself. Their intention was to compel him to make statements favourable to the partner of the main defendant.
In the first instance, the court found the woman guilty of five offences and imposed a sentence of three years and eight months in prison. The three other members of the group received sentences ranging from 15 months to two and a half years in prison.
The defence counsel for three of the convicted parties filed appeals. Following the review of the case in the second instance, the sentences were modified – ultimately amounting to between one year and eight months and three years and four months in prison. The prosecution argued in favour of upholding the original rulings.
Source: TVP Białystok
Source: Google News PL — Crime (pl)