Arrest warrant sought for Artur K. in Zondacrypto investigation – charges of money laundering and 3,900 bitcoins
The Prosecutor's Office has filed a motion with the court for the temporary arrest of former police officer Artur K., who was detained in the case involving the Zondacrypto cryptocurrency exchange. The suspect has been charged with money laundering and membership in an organised criminal group.
Arrest warrant in Zondacrypto case: former police officer faces charges
The Prosecutor's Office has filed a motion with the court for the temporary arrest of Artur K. in connection with an investigation into the Zondacrypto cryptocurrency exchange – according to Wednesday's report by wiadomosci.wp.pl, citing the spokeswoman for the Prosecutor General, prosecutor Anna Adamiak.
As grounds for the arrest motion, the prosecutor cited a justified concern about the suspect's flight or concealment, given the severe penalty he faces, as well as concern about obstruction of justice or unlawful hindrance of proceedings in another manner.
The Silesian Division of the National Prosecutor's Office completed the interrogation of Artur K. The man was charged with membership in an organised criminal group, money laundering, and sabotage of security procedures to the detriment of exchange users. The suspect denied guilt.
"Fictitious receivables, emptied accounts and 3,900 bitcoins diverted" – wrote Minister of Justice and Prosecutor General Waldemar Żurek, commenting on the completion of the interrogation. "We will settle this thoroughly – without deals, without exceptions and without clemency" – he added.
According to media reports, Artur K. is a retired police officer from the cybercrime division.
Search and trace leading to Sylwester Suszek
At the prosecutor's order, the residence of Artur K. was searched. Documentation concerning the activities of the Zondacrypto exchange was secured, as well as a fuel base, on the premises of which Sylwester Suszek was last seen before his disappearance in March 2022.
The detention of Artur K. occurred as part of an investigation that includes a charge of unlawful deprivation of liberty of Sylwester Suszek and misleading numerous people regarding the possibility of purchasing and storing fiat and cryptocurrency currencies within the Zondacrypto platform, which was allegedly intended to lead to disadvantageous disposal of property.
Background: thousands of victims
Proceedings against the Zondacrypto cryptocurrency exchange were opened by the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Katowice on 17 April in relation to fraud of significant value and money laundering. To date, several thousand reports of criminal offences have been received.
In early August, this investigation was combined with proceedings conducted by the Silesian division of the National Prosecutor's Office concerning the disappearance of Sylwester Suszek, whose fate has remained unknown since March 2022.
As part of the broader investigation into Zondacrypto, the former president of the Polish Olympic Committee, Radosław Piesiewicz, was previously arrested, among others.
Source: Google News PL