A six-month prison sentence has been handed down for looting in a flood-stricken area. The verdict, issued in an expedited trial, was announced by the National Prosecutor’s Office on Friday.
Prosecutor Przemysław Nowak confirmed the ruling via Twitter, stating that it was the first conviction for a “particularly audacious theft” in a flood-affected region. The incident involved a man who stole alcohol and mineral water from a shop in Lądek-Zdrój, a town impacted by recent flooding.
The District Court in Kłodzko found the individual guilty of theft, imposing a six-month prison sentence. However, the verdict remains subject to appeal, according to Mariusz Pindera, spokesperson for the District Prosecutor’s Office in Świdnica.
Looting is not a distinct offense under current Polish law but falls under the category of “particularly audacious theft.” This provision, which allows for penalties ranging from six months to eight years in prison, was reintroduced into the penal code in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic and expanded in a 2023 reform.
The fast-track trial process was used because the perpetrator was caught in the act, allowing authorities to bring the case swiftly before the court. However, other cases of looting in flood-affected areas may follow the regular trial process.