A prosecutor involved in the controversial arrest of a 66-year-old woman who posted remarks online about Jerzy Owsiak had previously faced both disciplinary and criminal proceedings for driving under the influence. While the criminal proceedings were conditionally discontinued, the court found prosecutor Sylwia Czarnecka guilty of the offense.
Driving Under the Influence on New Year’s Day
On the morning of January 1, 2020, police near Toruń stopped prosecutor Sylwia Czarnecka for a routine traffic check. Local media reported she was driving home after a New Year’s Eve party. Czarnecka was supposed to be on duty that day. Tests showed a blood alcohol level of 0.67 and 0.75 per mille.
Czarnecka was swiftly suspended from her duties. According to the Toruń-based Nowiny newspaper, she stood trial before the District Court in Inowrocław for drunk driving. The court found her guilty but conditionally discontinued the proceedings for one year of probation. It also imposed a two-year driving ban.
Czarnecka appealed. The Regional Court in Bydgoszcz upheld the original ruling to conditionally discontinue the case but shortened the driving ban.
In a separate development, the Disciplinary Chamber of the Supreme Court (SN) ruled on her professional accountability (the disciplinary officer had sought her removal from office). The chamber examined allegations of drunk driving and her unavailability on the day she was supposed to be on call as a prosecutor. In February 2023, the Supreme Court cleared her of the disciplinary charges, allowing her to return to work.
Pursuing a 66-Year-Old Woman
This ruling enabled Czarnecka to handle, among others, the case reported by Wirtualna Polska concerning the January arrest of a 66-year-old woman. The woman had published an online post about Jerzy Owsiak, prompting criminal proceedings against her.
According to Wirtualna Polska, Toruń resident Izabela M. was detained in mid-January and charged with making criminal threats toward Owsiak. In one of her online posts, she wrote: “Die, and the sooner the better. Enough with robbing people, enough with profiting off the gullibility of Poles.”
During questioning, the retiree admitted to publishing the post but denied intending to threaten Owsiak or incite anyone to kill him. The court placed her under police supervision, ordered her not to contact the head of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity (WOŚP), and barred her from coming within 100 meters of him.
Details of the Arrest
Nearly a month after the incident, on February 7, Wirtualna Polska revealed further details of how the 66-year-old was arrested. On the evening of January 14, police—including Toruń’s deputy municipal commander and head of the criminal division—visited the woman’s apartment but did not find her at home. The next day, at 6 a.m., officers returned and arrested her. A police memo justified the action by citing concerns she might tamper with evidence or flee.
The police searched her apartment without a court order; the woman voluntarily handed over her phone. Crucially, Jerzy Owsiak—the alleged victim—had not been questioned to determine whether he actually felt threatened.
When journalists from Wirtualna Polska asked the Toruń police why high-ranking officers were involved in the arrest, the initial response was to deny it. After being shown the police memo, however, authorities admitted there had been a “misunderstanding” and issued an apology.
“It’s true that the operation was unusual, but so was the situation,” explained the Toruń police spokesperson. She added that the case was treated as a priority and was considered a genuine threat. Police stressed they chose not to use handcuffs due to the woman’s age and health.
Prosecutor Confirms the Search
Prosecutor Sylwia Czarnecka approved the police search, stating that there was a need to quickly secure items used in the alleged offense. She also imposed several preventive measures on the 66-year-old, including the obligation to report to the police station three times a week, a ban on leaving the country, a requirement to pay a 300 PLN security deposit, and a prohibition on publicly commenting on the case. Additionally, the woman must not approach the WOŚP head.
Czarnecka explained that “there is no need for a harsher preventive measure,” which is why the 66-year-old was not placed in pre-trial detention.