Radom: Ukrainian and his partner heard allegations of human trafficking

Radom-East territory Attorney's Office is investigating suspicions of human trafficking and forced labour at a meat plant in Radom. The victims of this drama are 5 Colombian citizens who were recruited by a Ukrainian citizen Dmytro C. and Polish Karina W., an worker of the employment agency. Colombians have been forced to work under conditions that rise serious doubts about compliance with the laws and human dignity.

How did the crime happen?

According to the prosecution, the crime occurred between August 2022 and February 2023. Karina W., who fluent in Spanish, recruited Colombians through net forums. They were offered legal work in Poland, but on the place it turned out that the conditions were completely different. According to the victims, in the meat plant they experienced verbal and physical violence, as well as forcing them to work in hard conditions. Citizens of Colombia, who got to Poland through Spain, sought refuge from dangerous surviving conditions in a country controlled by drug cartels.

Working and surviving conditions in Radom

Workers' earnings were highly low – they received only about PLN 1.5 1000 a month, even though they had to work in very hard conditions. Employers took their passports distant from them and limited their ability to leave the hostel where they were accommodated. The Colombians were unsupported, did not talk Polish and had problems communicating even with people supervising their work. Investigators have established that Karina W. accepted from 3 of them a 1000 zlotys, promising to aid in obtaining permanent residence cards. But this promise was not fulfilled.

The situation of women was highly difficult. 1 Colombian suffered a leg injury erstwhile another worker of the plant threw a dense case of meat on his foot. Despite wellness problems, workers were forced to work. 1 of the victims, pregnant, besides had to put herself on the production line all day.

Charges and investigation

Karina W. and Dmytro Cz. were covered by police supervision and ban on leaving Poland. They both failed to plead guilty, claiming that the Colombians knew what working conditions they agreed to and voluntarily took up employment. However, the case has many controversial themes and investigators besides fishy the participation of another Ukrainian citizens who oversaw the work of Colombians in the plant.

Accusations against suspects include trafficking in human beings and forced employment, which under Polish law is at hazard of imprisonment from 3 to 20 years. The evidence gathered indicates that women were utilized in Poland and forced to work in inhumane conditions.

The scale of human trafficking

The Colombian case employed in Radom is 1 of many cases that shows the scale of the problem of human trafficking in Poland and Europe. abroad workers, especially those who do not talk the language, frequently become victims of employers' exploitation. Poland, being a transit and destination country for migrant workers, must face the challenge of ensuring decent working conditions for people who search a better life in it.

Radom-East Prosecutor's Office is working intensively on a case to explain all the circumstances and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Key Conclusions:

• Suspects, Karina W. and Dmytro C., were to exploit the helplessness and deficiency of cognition of the Colombian language, applying physical and verbal force to them.
• The work took place under severe conditions, with minimal breaks and low pay, which according to investigators violated workers' rights.
• The issue highlights the problem of trafficking in human beings, which affects many migrants seeking a better life in Europe.

Investigators are now continuing to work on the case, seeking to bring justice to the light and to supply protection for victims of trafficking in human beings.

Daniel Głogowski

Expert in his field – Publicist, author and social activist. The first articles were published in 1999 for global publishers. For more than 30 years, he has gained his experience through cooperation with the largest editorial offices. In his articles, he seeks to address controversial topics and present first viewpoints that allowed for a deeper knowing of the issues discussed.