WARSAW — 1998 · Unsolved Case
The Murder of General Marek Papała
General Marek Papała, Poland's former national police chief, was shot dead on the evening of 25 June 1998 as he got out of his car outside his home in Warsaw. The official investigation initially treated it as an attempted car theft, but it was sharply criticised by former police officers and journalists for inconsistencies. Two men accused of ordering the killing, with links to organised crime, were acquitted in 2013. The man accused of being the gunman was acquitted in 2020, and the appeals court upheld that verdict in November 2023. An extradition request for a businessman abroad was also refused. Despite the years, no one has been convicted; it remains one of Poland's most contested unsolved killings.
- Date
- 1998
- Place
- Mokotów, Poland, Warsaw, PL
- Category
- Unsolved Case
- Case Status
- Unsolved
- Coordinates
- 52.1900, 21.0200 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 25 June 1998Marek Papała was shot outside his Warsaw home.
- 2007A US judge refused to extradite a businessman.
- July 2013Two men accused of ordering the murder were acquitted.
- 2020The alleged gunman was acquitted.
- November 2023The appeals court upheld the acquittal.
Sources
- Wikipedia — Marek Papała en.wikipedia.org ↗
- Polityka — Zabójstwo Marka Papały polityka.pl ↗
- Gazeta Prawna — Bogucki i Słowik niewinni gazetaprawna.pl ↗
- NBC News — Judge refuses to extradite Polish millionaire nbcnews.com ↗
- Wikipedia
- Polityka
- Gazeta Prawna
- NBC News / AP
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.