Polish military lieutenant faces rape charges after allegedly assaulting a minor at a hunters’ festival in Świerklanec.
Rape Allegations at Hunters’ Festival
According to Onet reports, the incident occurred at the beginning of October 2025 in Świerklanec (Tarnowskie Góry county, Silesian Voivodeship). There was a celebration there for the feast of hunters, foresters and riders – Hubertus. The Tarnowskie Góry prosecutor’s office suspects that Lieutenant Zbigniew K.-G serving in the 13th Silesian Territorial Defense Brigade then raped a minor participant. The girl’s parents reported it to the police.
Formal Charges and Defense Response
Zbigniew K.-G. was charged with committing an act under Article 197 paragraph 1akk, i.e., causing another person to have sexual intercourse under the influence of alcohol – informed the deputy prosecutor of the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Tarnowskie Góry, Beata Huras in a conversation with Onet. The defender of the suspect, lawyer Konrad Pogoda, informed Onet that his client did not plead guilty. Investigators are also examining the issue of possession and administration of narcotics to a minor.
Suspected Cover-Up Attempt
As reported by Onet, the soldier’s superior – Colonel Paweł Piątkowski received information from the prosecutor’s office about the charges brought against his subordinate. However, journalists found out that he did not suspend the suspect, but transferred him to Kuźnia Raciborska as deputy commander of the support company. According to the portal, the superior also did not pass information about the case to the commander of the WOT General Krzysztof Stańczyk or to the Ministry of National Defense.
Military Command Response
The lieutenant was dismissed from service. “At this moment he is no longer a soldier of the Territorial Defense Service. There is no place for breaking the law in uniformed services” – wrote the press officer of the 13th ŚBOT, Lt. Tomasz Dzierga in a statement. Furthermore, the Territorial Defense Forces Command began an inspection to help clarify the matter. They stated they won’t comment further until the inspection is completed.