Four policemen from the southern region of Silesia have been charged with stealing 100 guns, ammunition and bullet-proof vests, allegedly to sell them on to other policemen.

“As many as 32 people in total have been charged for stealing or illegal possession of police property,” said Marta Zawada-Dybek from the Prosecutor’s Office in the southern city of Katowice.

Among the suspects are 19 policemen or former policemen from the industrial area of Silesia who were charged with trading weapons and corruption.

The investigation on the case was launched in 2007.

Four policemen who were in charge of two police warehouses in Katowice stole guns, ammunition, handcuffs, truncheons, bullet-proof vests and holsters. The stolen weapons, confiscated from criminals and meant to be destroyed, were bought by collectors or other policemen who wanted to exchange old guns for new ones. Ammunition cost 0.2 zloty (0,05 euro) per item.

The Prosecutor’s Office established that weapons stolen from police warehouses were not used to commit a criminal offence, however.

“We managed to recover most of the guns,” says Marta Zawada-Dybek. Those charged with arms trafficking may face up to 10 years in prison. (mg)

Source: PAP