State to Pay Over 3.2 Million PLN for Wrongful Arrest in Papała Murder Case

A Płock court has ordered the Polish state to pay Igor M., acquitted of the 1998 murder of former police chief Marek Papała, over 3.28 million PLN in compensation and damages.

Compensation for Wrongful Detention

The Płock Regional Court has ruled that Igor M., known as “Patyk,” is entitled to over 3.28 million PLN in damages and compensation for his wrongful pre-trial detention. The award includes 3,040,000 PLN for non-pecuniary harm and 244,993 PLN for lost earnings during his imprisonment from April 2012 to November 2015.

The ruling is not final, and both parties have the right to appeal the decision to the Court of Appeal in Łódź. The court delivered the verdict in a public session, though the detailed justification remains classified.

Acquittal in High-Profile Murder Case

Igor M. was definitively acquitted of the murder of former Police Commander-in-Chief Marek Papała by the Warsaw Court of Appeal in November 2023. Papała was shot to death in his car in Warsaw on June 25, 1998.

The original prosecution case relied heavily on the testimony of a crown witness. Prosecutors had unsuccessfully sought a life sentence for Igor M., claiming the killing was the result of a botched robbery by a criminal group that targeted the victim’s car without realizing his identity.

Security Measures During Proceedings

Proceedings regarding the compensation claim were held under high security in Płock, given Igor M.’s status as a crown witness in other criminal cases. While initial hearings required specialized security measures, the final verdict was delivered in the main regional court building without the presence of the applicant or state attorneys.