Case of Kamil from Częstochowa: Investigation into Officials Dropped Again

Eight-year-old Kamil M. died in May 2023 after months of severe abuse by his stepfather; now, the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Gdańsk has once again dismissed the investigation into potential negligence by public officials.

The Tragedy of Kamil M.

Eight-year-old Kamil M. died on May 8, 2023, at the Upper Silesian Child Health Center after a 35-day struggle for his life. He had been hospitalized following a report filed by his biological father. The investigation revealed that his stepfather, Dawid B., had abused the child for years, including pouring boiling water over him and placing him on a hot coal stove.

In May of this year, the District Court in Częstochowa sentenced Dawid B. to 25 years in prison for crimes including abuse with particular cruelty resulting in death. The boy’s mother was sentenced to 16 years for aiding her husband and participating in the abuse. The verdict is not yet final.

Investigation Into State Officials

Separately, the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Gdańsk investigated whether police, court-appointed guardians, and social workers had failed in their duties between 2018 and 2023. This probe was initially closed in January of last year.

Prosecutors previously argued that the primary obstacle to identifying the violence was the family’s concealment of the truth, specifically by the mother, Magdalena B. Investigators stated that she deliberately created a false, idealized image of the family while withholding facts about Dawid B.’s pathological behavior from authorities.

Court Challenges and Re-dismissal

Following a partial reversal by the District Court in Kielce in January, the investigation into officials, guardians, and police was reopened. However, the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Gdańsk has now closed the case again.

The prosecutor’s office stated that social workers and family assistants conducted regular inspections and monitored living conditions, finding no evidence that these officials were aware of the violence. They further asserted that courts acted according to existing procedures based on available evidence.

The decision is not final. Children’s Rights Ombudsman Monika Horna-Cieślak expressed strong disagreement with the dismissal, stating she intends to support an appeal and, if unsuccessful, assist in filing a subsidiary indictment to bring the matter before a criminal court.