Roman Ż. arrested and brought to prosecutor's office in Katowice in Zondacrypto case
Roman Ż., former partner of missing BitBay founder Sylwester Suszka, was arrested in Śląskie province and brought to the National Prosecutor's Office in Katowice.
Suszka's former partner to face prosecutor – charges in Zondacrypto case
On Sunday morning, Roman Ż. arrived at the Śląskie Remote Department of the National Prosecutor's Office in Katowice. According to RMF24, a day earlier – on Saturday afternoon – officers from the Central Bureau for Combating Cybercrime and the Śląskie Police arrested him in Śląskie province on the orders of the Katowice prosecutor's office.
Roman Ż. is the former partner of Sylwester Suszka – the missing founder of the cryptocurrency exchange BitBay, the predecessor of Zondacrypto – according to information provided to PAP by a source close to the justice ministry.
Arrest and asset seizure
In a statement published on Saturday on the X platform, police reported that during a search, officers seized valuable watches and documentation related to Zondacrypto's activities.
Anna Adamiak, spokesperson for the Prosecutor General, explained that the arrest took place due to justified concern about flight risk. Both Roman Ż.'s place of detention and his registered address were searched. Valuable items and materials concerning Zondacrypto were seized at both locations.
The prosecutor's office announced that procedural activities will be conducted in Katowice with Roman Ż.'s participation – including notification of a decision to press charges and questioning as a suspect.
Justice Minister and Prosecutor General Waldemar Żurek and Government Spokesperson Adam Szłapka publicly announced the arrest. Head of the KPRM Jan Grabiec said on Saturday on TVN24 that the investigation is proceeding intensively, and further information will be a "matter of hours and the coming days".
Zondacrypto investigation – progress to date
The Regional Prosecutor's Office in Katowice initiated an investigation into Zondacrypto in April concerning fraud of significant value and money laundering. To date, several thousand crime reports have been filed.
In August, the proceedings were combined with the investigation into the disappearance of Sylwester Suszka. The BitBay founder went missing in March 2022 – he was last seen at a petrol station belonging to Marian W., alias Maniek.
Suszka's successor at the company was Przemysław Kral, currently a key figure in the investigation. At the end of August, media reported that Kral is cooperating with the prosecutor's office, seeking the status of so-called small protected witness. During procedural activities, he put assets at the prosecutor's office's disposal to satisfy victims' claims. Kral is represented by lawyers Roman Giertych and Jacek Dubois.
Further arrests and detention orders
As part of the same investigation, the former president of the Polish Olympic Committee Radosław Piesiewicz was arrested. He was charged with extortion and preferential satisfaction of selected Zondacrypto creditors to the detriment of others in connection with the exchange's threatened insolvency. Piesiewicz denied the charges.
Last week, police arrested three more individuals, who were detained on Friday. Stock exchange investor Rafał Z. was brought to the Katowice delegation of the National Prosecutor's Office; according to media reports, he had connections with the missing Suszka and his exchange. The two other detained individuals are Jaromira W. – the former wife of Marian W., alias Maniek, the main suspect in Suszka's disappearance – and Anna P., his close associate.
Source: RMF24