Courts / Ireland / Report
Polish Minister's comments on extradition case "particularly troubling", High Court judge says
Summary
Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly of the Irish High Court has asked Polish authorities to explain how Artur Celmer, a 31‑year‑old Polish man wanted for drug trafficking, will receive a fair trial after Deputy Minister of Justice Marcin Warchol described him in the press as a "dangerous criminal from a drug mafia." Donnelly said such remarks threaten Celmer's presumption of innocence, a principle protected by the European Convention on Human Rights. She noted that the Polish Minister of Justice also serves as public prosecutor and has disciplinary powers over court presidents, raising concerns about judicial independence. Donnelly will send a list of questions to Poland and has invited counsel for Celmer and the Irish Minister for Justice to submit drafts. She has not yet decided whether Celmer's rights have been violated, but she is seeking information to assess the risk of a breach of his right to a fair trial.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Polish Minister's comments on extradition case "particularly troubling", High Court judge says. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial
When:
- 2018-08-01 Publication
Case subjects
Accused
Places mentioned
- High Court
Topics
Drugs Stage Charge Or Pretrial
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