Charges for three detained in Zondacrypto case: hidden recording and 8 million zloty
The Prosecutor's Office has brought charges against Anna P., Jaromir W. and Rafał Z. in connection with the Zondacrypto cryptocurrency exchange. All three deny their guilt.
Zondacrypto: charges against three suspects, including concealment of recording from Suszko's disappearance
The Prosecutor's Office brought charges on Thursday against three people detained on Wednesday as part of an investigation into the Zondacrypto cryptocurrency exchange, according to Google News PL, citing Anna Adamiak, spokesperson for the Prosecutor General.
Anna P. has been charged with participation in an organised criminal group whose aim was to seize part of the assets of Sylwester Suszko – founder of the BitBay exchange, Zondacrypto's predecessor, who disappeared in 2022. The woman is also suspected of causing damage to the property of Zondacrypto operator BB Trade Estonia by accepting a property in Katowice valued at 700,000 zloty.
However, the most serious charge against Anna P. concerns obstruction of the investigation into Suszko's deprivation of liberty.
– Anna P. persuaded people who were believed to have knowledge of where Sylwester Suszko was on the day of his disappearance to give false testimony – said prosecutor Adamiak.
The woman allegedly also removed security camera footage from the location where Suszko was last seen. According to media reports, Anna P. is the former wife of Marian W., known as "Maniek" – the main suspect in the case of the BitBay founder's disappearance.
Jaromir W.: 8 million zloty and fictitious loan repayment
Jaromir W., detained at the same time, has been presented with charges of participation in an organised criminal group and acting to the detriment of BB Trade Estonia by accepting 8 million zloty.
– In addition to accepting this amount, Jaromir W. obtained confirmation of repayment of a loan in the amount of 2.9 million euros, which in fact she did not repay, as well as accepting a property in Katowice – explained prosecutor Adamiak.
The woman has also been charged with money laundering from proceeds of crime. Media had previously reported that Jaromir W. was a close associate of Marian W., known as "Maniek".
Rafał Z.: embezzlement of 1.7 million zloty
The third detained person – Rafał Z. – has been charged with embezzling 1.7 million zloty belonging to BB Trade Estonia.
– Money was entrusted to him for a specific purpose, but he spent it for his own personal needs – said the Prosecutor General's spokesperson.
According to media reports, Rafał Z. had connections to the missing Suszko and his BitBay cryptocurrency exchange. He told journalists: "I am the victim." None of the three suspects admitted guilt. The Prosecutor's Office announced its intention to submit requests to the court for the temporary arrest of each of these persons.
"Maniek" and the inside story of the investigation
Marian W., known as "Maniek", is considered one of the key figures who could clarify who invested funds in Zondacrypto, who managed to withdraw capital before the exchange collapsed, and what happened to its founder. According to someone familiar with the details of the case who spoke to Gazeta Wyborcza, "Maniek" had invested enormous sums derived from fuel transactions into the exchange several years ago and gained informal influence over its management. In March 2022, Suszko came to W.'s fuel base in Czeladź. Marian W. is the last person known to have seen him, and the only one against whom charges related to his abduction have so far been brought.
– Siphoning off millions is one thing, but no one will escape responsibility for attempting to conceal the truth about crimes committed – commented Justice Minister and Prosecutor General Waldemar Żurek on the X platform.
Broader context of the investigation
The Zondacrypto investigation was initiated in April by the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Katowice with regard to fraud of significant value and money laundering. Several thousand crime reports have been filed to date. In August, the proceedings were combined with the investigation by the Silesian branch of the National Prosecutor's Office into Suszko's disappearance.
During searches carried out on Wednesday, luxury cars, watches, jewellery and a significant amount of cash were seized among other items.
On Thursday, as part of the same investigation, Radosław Piesiewicz, president of the Polish Olympic Committee, was also detained. He has been charged with paid protection and satisfying a group of Zondacrypto creditors to the detriment of other creditors in connection with the company's threatened insolvency. Piesiewicz denies the charges; the court decided on his temporary arrest. Zondacrypto was the general sponsor of the PKOl from October 2024 to April 2025.
Prosecutor General Żurek announced that over 100 million zloty has been seized during the investigation as provision for future compensation. Media reported on the exchange's liquidity problems in early April – an analysis obtained by money.pl and Wirtualna Polska revealed a 99 per cent drop in Zondacrypto's bitcoin reserves. Users reported difficulties withdrawing funds.
Source: PAP
Source: Google News PL