The owner of a renovation company may face imprisonment from three months to five years if he is found guilty of failing to secure the open edges of the balconies of a block of flats under renovation in Łomża (Podlaskie Voivodeship). In June, a 96-year-old woman fell from one of the balconies on the third floor. She was lying on scaffolding on the third floor. She was taken to hospital, where she died.
– Preliminary findings indicate that the block was undergoing renovation and the balustrades could have been dismantled – senior assistant Karolina Wojciekian from the Municipal Police Headquarters in Łomża said in June in front of the TVN24 camera.
The tragedy occurred on June 19 around 4:30 p.m. The services received a report about a 96-year-old resident of Łomża who fell from the balcony on the third floor. She was found on scaffolding one floor below.
A woman fell from a balcony in a building under renovation (photo from June 2024) TVN24
An indictment against the owner of a renovation company
The block was undergoing renovation and the balconies had no balustrades. The woman was taken to hospital. She died there. The prosecutor's office initiated an investigation.
Joanna Czaplicka, deputy district prosecutor in Łomża, informs that an indictment has been prepared against the owner of the company that renovated the block on behalf of the cooperative.
Prosecutor's office: he did not secure the open edges of the balconies
– The expert's opinion shows that the owner did not meet health and safety requirements and obligations regarding the proper security of the renovated balconies. The point was that he did not secure the open edges of the balconies – explains the prosecutor.
He adds that the owner of the renovation company will be liable for the act under Art. 155 of the Penal Code, i.e. unintentional causing death.
– He faces from three months to five years in prison – he says.
They also checked whether he endangered other residents
The prosecutor's office also investigated whether the safety of other residents of the block was at risk.
– In this respect, due to the lack of signs of a prohibited act, the investigation was discontinued – notes Joanna Czaplicka.
Main photo source: TVN24