Court acquits Salim Touahri after nearly seven years. MMA fighter was accused based on false testimony from minor crown witness
The Regional Court in Kraków acquitted MMA fighter Salim Touahri, who spent over a year in pre-trial detention on charges brought by prosecutor Tomasz Dudek. The charges were based solely on testimony from Krystian K., a minor crown witness in the case of the Green brothers gang.
Court acquits Salim Touahri after nearly seven years. MMA fighter was accused based on false testimony from minor crown witness
The Regional Court in Kraków issued an acquittal verdict for Salim Touahri, a well-known mixed martial arts fighter. The man spent over a year in pre-trial detention, and the entire case dragged on for nearly seven years.
Touahri was arrested in January 2020, a week before his planned wedding. Counter-terrorism officers entered a pharmacy in central Kraków where the athlete was present. The officers were armed with rifles and stun grenades. Red laser points were visible on the detainee's body.
Prosecutor Tomasz Dudek from the National Prosecutor's Office charged Touahri with drug trafficking and participation in an organised crime group. The basis of the accusation was testimony from Krystian K., a minor crown witness in the trial of the Green brothers gang. The same witness had previously been convicted of perjury.
Touahri maintained from the outset that he was innocent. In an interview with Interia, he admitted that the prosecutor was putting pressure on him to confess to the crime. He knew about his approaching wedding and the invited guests. The athlete refused to admit to something he had not done.
During a confrontation with Krystian K., the witness changed his testimony. One of the key elements of the accusation concerned Touahri's alleged cooperation with Magdalena K. in taking control of the crime group. However, at that time Touahri was in the United States, developing his sports career.
The court of first instance refused to order the arrest of the athlete. After the prosecution's appeal, the decision was reversed and Touahri was held in pre-trial detention for 14 months. The wedding took place, but there was no honeymoon.
After nearly seven years from his arrest, the court ruled that he was innocent. Touahri admitted that when he heard the judge's words, he cried and felt enormous relief. All along he believed that the truth would prevail.
Source: Interia
Source: Interia