On Tuesday, November 19, the appeal trial of the former vice-president of Gdańsk for education and social services, Piotr K., will begin in a Gdańsk court. He was sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for three years, for molesting a minor. A notification on this matter was submitted by the deputy mayor of the city in 2021.
Former vice-president of Gdańsk, Piotr K., was found guilty in the first instance and sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for three years. In April this year, the verdict in the case of the former vice president was read before the Gdańsk-Północ District Court. The prosecutor's office accused him of sexual abuse of a minor.
In the first instance, the court found the accused guilty and sentenced him to one year in prison, suspended for three years. The court also imposed a punitive measure in the form of a ban on practicing the profession and activities related to the education, upbringing, care and treatment of minors for a period of five years. Piotr K. cannot approach the victim within a distance of less than 100 meters and cannot contact the injured party for five years.
The former vice-president of Gdańsk is also to pay the injured party PLN 5,000 in compensation.
READ ALSO: A priest molested a 12-year-old altar boy. The Vatican is checking the actions of two bishops
The notification was submitted by the deputy president
According to the court, Piotr K. was accused of having, through abuse of trust, caused a minor to undergo another sexual act by ordering the injured party to sit on his knees, stroking his thigh, kissing the injured party's hand and patting him on the back, i.e. . for an act under Art. 199 pairs 3 of the Penal Code.
Only the verdict was public. The entire process took place behind closed doors.
The proceedings in this case were initiated by a notification sent by the deputy mayor of Gdańsk. The notification to the prosecutor's office was received on July 19, 2021, and was registered at the prosecutor's office a day later. The investigation into this case was initiated on August 2, 2021. It was conducted by the Gdańsk-Oliwa District Prosecutor's Office.
The former local government official disappeared from local politics after resigning from the position of vice president for education and social services in November 2020. He announced his decision on Facebook, citing “personal reasons.” The resignation was kept secret almost until the end, and city employees found out about it after a press conference of the city authorities. Piotr K. has held the position of deputy mayor of Gdańsk since 2014, and has been associated with the city hall since 2010.
At the end of February 2021, Piotr K. announced in local news outlets that he was returning to work in administration at the University of Gdańsk (prior to his position at the municipal office, the former local government official worked in a research and teaching position at the university in 2006-2010). From March 2021 to January 30, 2023, he was associated with the University of Gdańsk.
Main photo source: Adobe Stock