Jerzy G., mayor of Zabrze in the southern region of Silesia between 2002 and 2006, was detained by police on suspicion of murder and torture.

According to investigators, the former mayor of Zabrze and his two accomplices tortured and murdered Lech Frydrychowski, a lawyer from Zabrze. Frydrychowski’s body – bound, burnt and with a cut-off ear – was found in August 2008 in a forest near the town of Bedzin.

The former mayor will spend three months in custody. Apart from Jerzy G., two other people were detained in relation to the crime.

Police suspect that there was a financial motive for the murder. Lech Frydrychowski claimed that Jerzy G., before becoming a mayor, borrowed 246,000 zloty (60,000 euro) from him and did not give the money back. When Frydrychowski asked Jerzy G. to pay back the debt, the mayor accused him of trying to wheedle money.

Frydrychowski was cleared from accusations but it turned out that Jerzy G. presented false testimony in the case and the Prosecutor’s Office laid charges against him. In 2007, the civil court ruled that the former mayor has to return the money to Frydrychowski and a regional criminal court issued a warrant on him. (mg/mmj)

Source: Gazeta Wyborcza