The man who stole an electric wheelchair attachment from Ćukasz Berezak, one of the most famous volunteers of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity, was sentenced to one year in prison. The verdict is not final.
A Szczecin court sentenced a 37-year-old man to one year in prison for stealing a part of a wheelchair. MichaĆ Tomala, spokesman for the District Court in Szczecin, said the man expressed remorse and returned the stolen item. “The suspect had a lot on his conscience. It turned out he was a repeat offender, previously convicted of property crimes,” he added.
The judgment is not final.
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“He couldn't move without it”
The crime occurred on February 12, 2023. A day later, the family of Ćukasz Berezak, one of the most famous volunteers of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity, informed the police about the theft of an electric attachment from the boy's stroller. Without it, the 19-year-old could not move.
In a conversation with TVN24 journalists, Iza Berezak, Ćukasz's mother, said that without this device her son is grounded at home. – Someone stole the attachment, but without the battery. Without it, it is useless. The attachment was bought last year with funding from PFRON, Ćukasz will not receive such funding again – the woman added.
A few days after the theft, the Szczecin police reported that officers had detained a man suspected of stealing a part of the stroller.
Ćukasz Berezak's mother: I hope someone's conscience will be touchedTVN24
Who is Ćukasz Berezak?
Ćukasz Berezak has been collecting for the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity since he was a young boy. Recently, due to his health condition, he has stopped collecting money on the streets, and has been collecting money online instead.
Ćukasz Berezak during the collection during the 28th Grand Finale of the Great Orchestra of Christmas CharityTVN24 archive
Ćukasz became famous for his extraordinary willingness to help others when, as a 10-year-old volunteer for the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity, he told a TVN24 reporter during an interview: “There is no salvation for me, so I would like to help those for whom there is still hope”. This won him the sympathy of not only Jurek Owsiak, but also countless people who actively support him. Since then, despite his health condition, he has been raising money for the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity every year.
The 19-year-old struggles with multiple ailments, including Crohn's disease and congenital immunodeficiency.
Main image source: Adobe Stock