The woman worked at a cash-payment point operated since 2009 from 2011. Due to her reliability and conscientiousness, she gained the trust of her employers. This changed in 2014, when Dorota M., encouraged by her life partner and co-defendant—the 32-year-old Dawid O.—began misappropriating money received from customers. The man, who had previously been convicted of fraud (he left prison in March 2013), claimed that he would invest the cash and provide the family with a prosperous life in the future (the couple have a child together).
The defendant was persuaded and, in 2014, misappropriated money from payments made by 328 people, totaling over PLN 131,000. She handed the cash to her co-defendant.
The fraud came to light when customers of the cash-payment point began receiving payment demands. The woman’s employers then conducted an inspection and uncovered the scale of the fraud. They demanded that the cash be returned. When this proved impossible, they reported the crime.
The people who had paid the money recovered it because the cash-payment point was insured. Dorota M. confessed to committing the crimes and provided extensive explanations. She faces up to 8 years in prison. The woman had no prior convictions.
Dawid O. was charged with handling stolen goods. This offense carries a sentence of up to 5 years in prison. However, because Dawid O. is a recidivist, he faces a harsher sentence—up to 7.5 years in prison.
O. pleaded guilty and declared his willingness to voluntarily submit to punishment. However, the prosecutor did not agree to this solution. Dawid O. is currently serving a prison sentence in another case.
The case will be heard by the District Court in Legnica.
Legnica District Prosecutor’s Office/ii