Police officer charged with aiding after allegedly tipping off suspect in Łączna zoo case

In brief

• A Polish police officer has been charged with obstructing criminal proceedings for allegedly warning a suspect about an operation at the Łączna zoo.
• She admitted the charge, was placed under police supervision and suspended from duty.
• Prosecutors say a recorded call is key evidence, and 33 animals were removed from the zoo in the earlier raid.

Charge and detention measures

The Świdnica District Prosecutor's Office said on Saturday that a police officer, identified as Katarzyna S., had been charged under Article 239 §1 of the Penal Code, which concerns obstructing criminal proceedings. The prosecutor's office said she allegedly disclosed official information to a suspect in the case (Kryzys w zoo w Łącznej. Ekspertka rezygnuje, zarzut dla policjantki – WP Wiadomości) ("Z partyzanta dzwonię". Policjantka miała ostrzec podejrzanego w sprawie zoo w Łącznej – Onet) (Policjantka z zarzutem poplecznictwa ws. ZOO Łączna. „Z partyzanta dzwonię” – Rzeczpospolita). Following her questioning, she was placed under police supervision and suspended from her official duties (Policjantka miała ostrzec właściciela Zoo Łączna. Usłyszała zarzut – rmf24.pl).

The recorded call

According to prosecutors, the key evidence is a recorded phone conversation between the officer and Marcin N., a representative of the zoo's owner. In the recording, she tells him she hopes he is not being recorded because she is calling off the record ("Z partyzanta dzwonię". Policjantka z zarzutem po aferze wokół zoo w Łącznej – dorzeczy.pl). Prosecutors believe she warned him about planned actions by police and prosecutors. The recording was later published online.

Admission and next steps

Katarzyna S. admitted the charge but declined to give further explanations, the prosecutor's office said. Her superiors are to be informed. The Świdnica prosecutors took over the investigation from the Wałbrzych District Prosecutor's Office on Friday, and the new prosecutor announced quick checks on the condition of the animals kept at the zoo.

Background to the raid

Prosecutors, supported by police, earlier entered the zoo grounds, carried out an inspection and detained five people. In total, 33 animals were taken away, some of them transferred abroad. The decision to remove the animals drew protests from some residents of Łączna.