Former MP Arrested on Suspicion of Molesting 9-Year-Old During Summer Day Camp

A former Polish lawmaker and private school director has been placed in pre-trial detention following allegations that he assaulted a child on the first day of a summer camp near Warsaw.

Arrest and Allegations

Jan B., a former Samoobrona MP and director of a non-public primary school near Warsaw, has been held in pre-trial detention since July 11. The prosecutor’s office accuses him of inappropriate behavior toward a 9-year-old participant in summer day camps organized by the Izabelin Montessori School. The man has not been legally convicted.

The incident reportedly took place on July 6, the first day of holiday classes. According to Onet’s findings, the director allegedly took the girl to his office, where the suspect touched her in intimate areas and kissed her on the mouth. The girl managed to escape the room when the man stepped away briefly.

Investigation and Evidence

The child’s parents contacted the police on the same day and filed a formal crime report the following day. The girl was interviewed in a specially prepared room for minor witnesses, and police subsequently searched the school and the suspect’s home.

Piotr Skiba, spokesman for the District Prosecutor’s Office in Warsaw, confirmed the investigation began following a report from a parent. The prosecution withheld details citing the interests of the investigation.

Court Assessment of the Victim’s Testimony

The court justified the temporary arrest based on the heavy penalty facing the accused, the risk of tampering with evidence, and the results of the girl’s interview. In the presence of an expert psychologist, she presented an account of events that the specialist deemed credible.

The court noted that the victim’s account was consistent and unambiguous, considering her age. The child’s behavior during and after the interview did not indicate any attempt to falsely accuse an adult man she had met that very day.

The parents stated they had previously talked to their daughter about potential disturbing behaviors by adults. Upon returning from the camp, the girl immediately told her mother about the situation in the office, and the family provided her with psychological care.

During the classes, the girl was reportedly with two other day camp participants. According to the parents, Jan B. proposed a game to the children and then invited them to his office. The 9-year-old’s father also claims the man previously recorded the girls with a phone while showing them around the building.

Legal Qualifications and Potential Sentence

The investigation concerns an act classified under Article 200 § 1 of the Penal Code, which covers sexual intercourse with a person under 15 years of age, another sexual act with such a person, or forcing them to submit to such acts. The offense carries a prison sentence of 2 to 15 years.

At this stage of the proceedings, Jan B. holds the status of a suspect, and only a final court judgment can determine his guilt.

Previous Controversies

Jan B.’s political career ended in 2007 when information emerged regarding his previous dismissal from a school job due to allegations of inappropriate behavior toward a 12-year-old student, though that case did not end in a final conviction.

Despite this background, Jan B. ran a non-public primary school in Izabelin operating since 2023. In recent weeks, Onet also reported on the former MP’s conflict with the mother of a student and his actions against individuals criticizing the facility’s operation.

Following the director’s arrest, questions arose regarding how he was vetted before starting work with children. The Ministry of National Education and the school superintendent announced an inspection regarding compliance with child protection regulations, while inquiries were also directed to the Izabelin Commune Office and the school, which had not responded by the time of publication.

The State Commission for Counteracting Sexual Violence Against Minors Under 15 Years of Age has taken an interest in the case, announcing plans to request access to the case files and monitor the proceedings.

The Commission noted that a person in a management position at a children’s facility could have contact with a larger number of minors. If similar events occurred in the past, reporting them remains significant even if the punishability has expired, allowing the Commission to conduct explanatory proceedings and consider entry into the Sex Offenders Registry.

Commission representatives also highlighted the issue of supervision over non-public schools, arguing that verifying directors should not be limited solely to checking criminal records, but must include prior work history regarding children, attitudes, and reactions to warning signs.

If you have experienced or witnessed molestation, ensure your safety and tell a trusted person. In an emergency, call 112. Keep messages, recordings, and other evidence, do not contact the perpetrator, and report the event to the police or prosecutor’s office. Seek medical and psychological help if needed, and children and youth can call 116 111.