“No violations of procedures and official discipline were found” – this is the result of the inspection carried out at the Provincial Police Headquarters in Krakow after the intervention in the case of Mrs. Joanna from Krakow. After taking an abortion pill, the woman was taken to hospital with the assistance of the police, where her phone and laptop were taken away, she was ordered to undress, squat and cough. The scandalous intervention was first shown by “Fakty” TVN.
The proceedings lasted two months. It took place at the Provincial Police Headquarters in Kraków and concerned officers from this unit and the actions they took against Mrs. Joanna, who was taken to hospital with the assistance of the police after she admitted to her psychiatrist that she had taken an abortion pill. Due to the deterioration of her patient’s physical and mental condition, the doctor, fearing for her safety, notified the police about the case. This is standard procedure in such cases. Mrs. Joanna was taken to hospital with the assistance of the police.
As she later reported to “Facts” reporter Renata Kijowska, in the hospital the policemen were told to “keep them in sight”, they took away her phone and laptop, and the policewomen ordered her to undress, squat and cough.
SEE THE MATERIAL OF “FACTS” TVN: Mrs. Joanna took an abortion pill. The police came to the hospital and took her laptop and phone
The police did not find any violations of procedures or official discipline
As “Wyborcza” found out, the proceedings in the case of the policemen who intervened against Mrs. Joanna have come to an end. – During the activities carried out, no police officers were found to have violated official discipline – Katarzyna Cisło, spokeswoman for the provincial police headquarters in Krakow, told “Wyborcza”.
This morning, our journalists have been trying to obtain information about the results of the proceedings, but the police spokeswoman is not answering the phone.
Police on the results of the inspection regarding the intervention against Mrs. Joanna TVN24
The case is being investigated by the prosecutor’s office
The case is being investigated simultaneously and independently of the police by the prosecutor’s office in Piotrków Trybunalski. Ms. Joanna’s attorney, Kamila Ferenc, submitted a report on suspicion of committing a crime under Article 231 of the Penal Code, i.e. abuse of powers by public officials. In this case, police officers acting to the detriment of Mrs. Joanna’s private interest.
§ 1. A public official who, exceeding his or her powers or failing to fulfill his or her duties, acts to the detriment of the public or private interest shall be subject to the penalty of imprisonment for up to 3 years. § 2. If the perpetrator commits the act specified in § 1 in order to obtain a financial gain or personal data, is subject to the penalty of imprisonment from one year to 10 years. § 3. If the perpetrator of the act specified in § 1 acts unintentionally and causes significant damage, he or she shall be subject to a fine, restriction of liberty or imprisonment for up to 2 years. § 4. The provisions of § 2 shall not apply. if the act meets the criteria of a prohibited act specified in Art. 228.
Mrs. Joanna’s story
The story of Mrs. Joanna from Krakow was publicized by “Fakty” TVN. The woman took an abortion pill because the pregnancy was said to be life-threatening. After a few days, when she felt physically and mentally bad, she informed her doctor. She also informed her that she had had a medical abortion. A doctor – psychiatrist – who claims that the woman told her during the conversation that she wanted to take her own life, called 112 and informed the services about the incident. Mrs. Joanna went to the hospital accompanied by the police. The officers were to interrogate her on site and, as the court later ruled, they also took away her laptop and phone illegally.
In an interview with TVN24, the woman emphasized that no one forced her to have an abortion, she ordered the drugs online and decided to take them herself. According to Polish law, terminating one’s own pregnancy is legal and does not result in criminal liability.
SEE THE MATERIAL OF “FACTS” TVN: Mrs. Joanna took an abortion pill. The police came to the hospital and took her laptop and phone
Police position
The police commented on the matter a day after the material was broadcast in “Fakty” TVN. In the first message, which was published on the website of the Municipal Police Headquarters in Krakow, the uniformed officers informed that they had received a report about a woman who “had an abortion” and “wanted to take her own life”, and “securing the phone and laptop was necessary to determine the source of the purchased medicine and to examine whether its sale was legal. One day later the police changed their message.
During the press conference, the Chief Police Commander, General Insp., commented on the matter. Jarosław Szymczyk. During the conference, recordings of telephone conversations between Mrs. Joanna’s doctor, the 112 dispatcher and the police were made public.
Main photo source: TVN24