Detained journalist held in bedbug-infested cell; minister cites facility specifics

Investigative journalist Leszek K., currently detained on charges of illegal firearm possession and threatening a police commander, has alleged unsanitary conditions in his holding cell, claiming it was infested with bedbugs. The journalist denies all charges against him.

Maria Ejchart, Deputy Minister of Justice, addressed the allegations, confirming that bedbugs were found in the four-person cell where Leszek K. was held. She explained that such infestations are common in correctional facilities due to the constant movement of inmates and their belongings, rather than a result of hygiene negligence. Ejchart stated that the facility took immediate action, disinfecting the cell and moving the inmates to a new living area with fresh bedding.

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Bedbugs in penitentiary facilities – just like in other places of collective stay – most often appear through being carried on clothing or personal belongings. The rotation of inmates favors their spread, which does not result from hygiene negligence, but from the specifics of such facilities. The most important thing here is an immediate reaction, and such sanitary actions have been taken in this case. The cell will be disinfected.

Ejchart also clarified the timeline of Leszek K.'s detention, noting that his transfer to the Warsaw-Białołęka detention center was due to a lack of available transitional cells. She also mentioned that his lawyers' visit was delayed due to organizational issues but was eventually facilitated. The ministry emphasized that Leszek K. is not considered a high-risk inmate.

The case has drawn attention from the Ombudsman and the president of Press Club Polska, who have appealed for action regarding the journalist's situation. The allegations of bedbugs in the cell add another layer of controversy to the ongoing legal proceedings against Leszek K.

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In connection with the emerging information regarding the temporarily detained, by court decision, Leszek K., suspected of making criminal threats against the District Police Commander in Piaseczno and illegal possession of firearms, I present the actual course of events.