Prosecutors examine bathtub in case of disappearance of Zondacrypto founder Sylwester Suszek
Investigators are to examine a bathtub as key evidence in the case of Sylwester Suszek's disappearance, founder of the BitBay cryptocurrency exchange. The Minister of Justice has acknowledged that the hypothesis of death is "correct reasoning".
Bathtub as key lead in Suszek disappearance investigation
The Prosecutor's Office has a "macabre piece of evidence" that could confirm the death of Sylwester Suszek – founder of the BitBay cryptocurrency exchange, predecessor of Zondacrypto – according to Google News PL, citing journalist Mariusz Gierszewski of Radio ZET. According to his findings, investigators have ordered examination of a bathtub; the results of the expert analysis are to help establish how the perpetrators could have disposed of the missing man's body.
Suszek disappeared in March 2022. His family has been searching for him unsuccessfully for several years.
Żurek: death hypothesis is "correct reasoning"
Minister of Justice Waldemar Żurek was asked about the disappearance on Thursday 3 September on Polsat News. He stated that investigators are at an "advanced" stage of suspicions, but evidence beyond doubt is still needed to bring charges.
– This is correct reasoning. We have to look at it this way – said Żurek, when asked whether Suszek is alive. – We have to look at who benefited from the disappearance of this person, who did he work with – added the head of the Justice Ministry.
The day before, on Wednesday, during a press conference, Żurek was asked whether Suszka should be treated as missing or as murdered. The Minister answered that the matter is being investigated "very intensively". – In my opinion it is unlikely that this person is a missing person or someone in hiding. When a person disappears, close relatives usually have some information. Here we see that the family has been searching for this person unsuccessfully for many years – he noted.
Investigation merged with Zondacrypto proceedings
The Regional Prosecutor's Office in Katowice initiated proceedings concerning the Zondacrypto exchange on 17 April regarding fraud of significant value and money laundering. To date, several thousand reports of criminal offence have been submitted.
In early August, the investigation into Zondacrypto was merged with the proceedings of the Silesian division of the National Prosecutor's Office concerning Suszek's disappearance. The merged proceedings are currently conducted by the same division of the National Prosecutor's Office.
Arrests and seized assets
In the course of the investigation, President of the Polish Olympic Committee Radosław Piesiewicz was among those detained. On Wednesday 2 September, police officers, at the prosecutor's order, detained three further people connected with the Zondacrypto case. During searches, luxury cars, watches, jewellery and a significant quantity of cash were seized.
Later that same day, exchange investor Rafał Zaorski was brought to the National Prosecutor's Office delegation in Katowice. According to media reports, Zaorski was said to have had connections with the missing Suszek and with the BitBay exchange, which operated before Zondacrypto.
Source: Google News PL