On 18 November 2020 in Warsaw, Police Officer Sebastian S. pepper‑sprayed MP Magdalena Biejat during a protest, a crime for which he is now facing up to ten years in prison.
Pepper Spray Incident
On 18 November 2020, at Powstańców Warsaw Square, MP Magdalena Biejat was taking part in a demonstration when Police Officer Sebastian S., a Central Counter‑terrorism Section “BOA” officer, sprayed her with pepper spray from less than two metres. The politician displayed her ID and requested that the officer cease the use of force.
Prosecution Findings
The prosecutor’s office ruled that Sebastian S.’s actions violated police intervention tactics and the proportionality principle. “He used a manual pepper‑spray gun, aimed it at her face from a distance of less than two metres while she was calling for an intervention to protect the Sejm,” said prosecutor Piotr Antoni Skiba. He added that the use of the spray also endangered other bystanders nearby.
Legal Proceedings History
The case had been dismissed twice because the perpetrator could not be identified. After Magdalena Biejat appealed, a Warsaw court ordered the investigation to resume in 2024. Additional evidence, including forensic and video analysis, now confirms with high probability that Sebastian S. was the officer who sprayed the gas.
Current Status
The former officer, now retired, was questioned as a suspect but did not admit guilt or provide statements. He faces a potential sentence of up to ten years in prison for the alleged assault.
