Ewa Andrysiewicz v Circuit Court in Lodz, Poland
[2024] EWHC 1399 (Admin)
Slawomir Sekula v Regional Court In Bydgoszcz
1 March 2023
[2023] EWHC 446 (Admin)
High Court
A man is wanted in Poland for an old fraud. Even though he's made a new life in the UK, a judge decided he has to go back to Poland to serve his sentence. The judge didn't find any good reasons to stop the extradition.
Key Facts
- •Sławomir Sekula appeals the refusal of permission to appeal an extradition order.
- •Sekula is wanted in Poland for a two-year suspended sentence for fraud (2015), activated due to subsequent offences and non-payment of compensation.
- •The original fraud involved £2,616 and occurred between 2010-2011.
- •Sekula was arrested in February 2022 and has been on bail.
- •The District Judge found Sekula was not a fugitive but noted his foolish departure from Poland in 2020 after the sentence activation.
- •Sekula argues the sentence is disproportionate and the passage of time is significant.
- •Sekula highlights his current family life in the UK, employment, and the impact extradition would have on his family.
- •He claims attempts were made to pay compensation and one of the activation offences (alimony evasion) wouldn't be a crime in the UK.
Legal Principles
Extradition is governed by relevant treaty obligations and domestic law.
Not explicitly stated, but implied throughout the judgment.
Article 8 ECHR (right to respect for private and family life) is considered in extradition cases, balancing the public interest in extradition against the impact on the individual.
Implied, referenced in Section 7.
Outcomes
Permission to appeal is refused.
The court finds no reasonably arguable ground of appeal. The factors favoring extradition (public interest, previous dishonesty convictions) outweigh Article 8 considerations. The passage of time is explained by Sekula's knowledge of the sentence and his actions.