Chef faces extradition after car theft in Poland

Monday 23 July 2018

A 31-year-old Polish man who has been working as a chef in the island for the past eight years has been remanded in custody as he faces the prospect of being sent back home to serve two years in prison.

Dariusz Burdynski was convicted of car theft in Poland in 2005 and sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for five years.

Last week, the Magistrate's Court heard that Mr Burdynski also faced prosecution for other matters which eventually led the sentence to reach two years. He also failed to maintain regular contact with his probation officer. At one point, he told the officer he was now living in the Netherlands, having left Poland without authorisation. 

Advocate Adam Harrison, defending, said Mr Burdynski did not wish to be extradited. He said he had settled in the island and had been in a relationship for three years and was living with his girlfriend. He also said two of his brothers lived in Jersey. "He wants to remain in the island for the long term," he added.

Advocate Harrison said Mr Burdynski has been working at a fish and chips restaurant for the past seven months and has held several positions as chefs in local restaurants.

The Court heard that Mr Burdynski was arrested at 01:55 at his Don Road home on 18 July. Assistant Magistrate Peter Harris said he was "unlawfully at large after a conviction for two offences of theft of two motor vehicles in Poland." He said that Mr Burdynski had been away from Poland for eight or more years and that, although he had visited, he had not once surrendered himself to the authorities in Poland.

The Assistant Magistrate noted that Mr Burdynski's ties to the island, his girlfriend, his family members and his employment, would have normally been enough to reassure the court he would show up for his next hearing. However, he added that there was a real risk that knowing he faces a two-year sentence In Poland, he might not surrender to bail and leave the island, having already evaded Polish authorities previously. 

He therefore refused to grant bail and remanded Mr Burdynski in custody until 17 August when the Court will decide if he should be sent home or not. 

Mr Burdynski's case comes a day after it was revealed that 31-year-old Mateusz Pabian is also facing extradition over burglary and drugs offences. The Police says they rarely receive extradition requests from other countries but that they remain open to cooperating with other jurisdictions when needed.