According to a key testimony, Leszek Miller is responsible for the contract killing of former chief of police, Marek Papala.
Artur Zirajewski’s testimony, a gangster involved in the contract killing of general Papala, former chief of Polish police, incriminates Leszek Miller, former Prime Minister and prominent member of the post-communist Democratic Left Alliance.
Zirajewski died earlier this year in unexplained circumstances in jail. Before his death, he gave testimony that was read out in court Monday at the high-profile trial investigating the death of General Marek Papala. The gangster did not reveal the information earlier, because, as he said, he feared for his life.
According to Zirajewski, Leszek Miller is responsible for the contract killing of former chief of police, Marek Papala and Edward Mazur, formerly a communist functionary, today a wealthy businessman whom Poland cannot extradite from the US for trial, financed Leszek Miller's political activity with money coming from drug smuggling.
General Marek Papala, former chief of Polish police, was shot to death in front of his apartment on 25 June 1998. Papala’s murder is believed to have been a contract killing involving the mafia, high ranking politicians and former communist functionaries. The trial in the case began after 12 years has been criticized as being a "smoke screen", as only minor gangsters accused of indirect complicity face charges. Those who commissioned the murder remain at large, though Edward Mazur, living in Chicago, has remained a top suspect. (jn/mmj)