The British court has decided to release Michael K. from custody, which means that he will be accountable to an extradition court with a free foot. Piotr Müller, who wrote in his account on the X platform:
"British court decided to release Michał Kuczmierowski from custody. This means that he will be accountable to the extradition court free of charge’.
This decision was met with the comments of the PiS politicians, including the Euro MP, who stated: "As you can see, they do not share Bodnar and Tusk policies."
The British court decided to release Michał Kuczmierowski from custody. This means that he will be free to answer to the extradition court.
— Piotr Müller (@PiotrMuller) January 29, 2025
Background
The erstwhile head of the Government strategical Reserve Agency was detained in London last September. He refused voluntary extradition, which triggered a suit in Britain. Until now, he has been in custody, but now the British court has allowed him to wait for an extradition proceeding at large.
PiS MP Janusz Cieszynski refers to this decision in harsh words, accusing the Polish government of manipulating the situation:
"British court against the expectations of the bodnarists allowed Michał Kuczmierowski to respond from a free foot. Banda Tuska expecting this decided to cover up the embarrassment by detaining a KPRM official. In panic, they go to a review of the Justice Fund scenario."
Elon Musk's intervention?
The post by Benyamin Naeem Habib, a British politician and erstwhile MEP, re-entered the Kuczmierowski case. He publically criticised the policy of his government, recalling the case of the erstwhile RARS chief:
"We have a politicized criminal justice system. We even do dirty political work for abroad regimes."
He besides stressed that Michael K. has been in a British prison without trial since September 2024 and that his extradition proceeding is not due until July. He wrote:
"He will be in prison for almost a year without trial. This is simply a full sentence, and he has not even been judged!’
This subject was noted by Elon Musk, whom Habib marked in his entry. Billionaire briefly replied, “Yes!”.
What are the charges against Kuczmierowski?
Michał K. is accused of participating in an organized criminal group, of exceeding his powers, and of failing to fulfil his duties in order to accomplish the property benefit. He is facing up to 10 years in prison for his actions.
On 31 August, the territory Court in Warsaw issued the European Arrest Warrant, while a fewer days earlier, on 26 August, the prosecution ordered the search for him with a BOLO.
What about extradition?
The decision of the British court to release Kuczmierowski from custody does not mean that he will avoid extradition. In July, his key proceeding will be held, which will find whether it will be handed over to the Polish judiciary.
Meanwhile, the issue is controversial both in Poland and in the UK. The participation of well-known characters specified as Benyamin Habib or Elon Musk can give it further global publicity, affecting its course.
More here:
Michał K. released from custody by the British court – What next with his extradition?
