Company Director’s ‘temporary arrest’ in Poland under scrutiny

For Immediate Release

Access to justice campaigners expressed concern that British and New Zealand dual citizen company director Bruce Robinson has now been held under ‘temporary arrest’ in a Polish prison for 12 months without bail and without a trial.

Fair Trials Abroad (FTA) Head of Legal Team Sabine Zanker strongly criticised the ongoing denial of bail by the Polish courts: “There is no legal basis for Bruce to continue to be held under ‘temporary arrest’. He has no previous convictions and the prosecution have stated that they do not regard him as a flight risk,” said Ms Zanker.

Bruce Robinson was arrested in February 2006 and charged with unintentionally causing the collapse of an exhibition building which killed 65 people and injured more than 170 in January 2006.

The building was owned by a company of which Bruce Robinson was the Polish CEO. Investigators’ reports have confirmed that the building was poorly designed, cheaply built and collapsed due to the weight of snow on its roof. Bruce had no involvement in the design or construction of the building and was in Spain at the time of the collapse.

“Bruce immediately returned to Poland to assist with the investigation but since his arrest he has been denied access to his lawyer at key times, not been allowed to attend his court hearings and had inaccurate translations of documents, “ outlined Ms Zanker.

“We are really concerned about the practice of “temporary arrest” in the Polish judicial system, where people, who have not been charged yet, are being held for a number of years,” added Ms Zanker.

“Even more worryingly, Bruce’ s Polish defence lawyer Greg Slyszyk was denied access to the prosecutor’s application to extend the temporary arrest of his client yet again. How can he prepare for the court hearing on 14th of February under such circumstances?” asked Ms Zanker.

“Bruce should be granted bail at that hearing,” concluded Ms Zanker “Otherwise justice is being denied to him.”