A trial of councillor Dariusz F. is under way in the Bolesławiec court. The cemetery employee testifying today described Dariusz F.’s behaviour towards employees.
– If someone did not oppose him, he allowed himself more around those people – the employee testified. – I often worked in the field with another woman. The manager mocked us and said that we should not hold hands. He said it seriously, so I replied that we were attracted to each other – the woman told the court.
The woman upheld the testimony she had given to the police. It included a description of the manager’s behaviour: he allegedly used the toilet with the door open while the female employees were taking their breakfast break.
– While we were eating breakfast in the staff room, the manager often came in and urinated with the toilet door ajar, and everything could be heard – the witness testified. – The toilet was open at the top. Closing the door would not have helped much. The manager should have waited or gone to another toilet. He also pointed out to the victim that she went to the toilet too often – she added.
The woman also confirmed her testimony to the police, which mentioned the massaging of another employee’s shoulders.
– When I worked in the florist’s shop, the manager would come in and massage one of the employees’ shoulders – the woman described the situation in her testimony. – Apart from that, he rubbed against her and looked at her in a sexist way. We women did not like this behaviour. We talked to her and told her to draw his attention to it, but I do not know whether she did. She said that the manager’s behaviour also embarrassed her, but she did not know how to tell him. I think she was afraid to oppose him – the woman testified.
In December 2020, a penal order was issued in the case against councillor Dariusz F. (that is, a ruling issued on the basis of the case files). Prosecutors accused him of abusing an employee and inciting the commission of the crime of forging a signature. Both offences carry a sentence of between three months and five years in prison. At the time, the Bolesławiec court sentenced Dariusz F. to:
- a PLN 8,000 fine
- PLN 10,000 in compensation for the victim
- a two-year restraining order protecting the victim.
In the prosecutor’s view, the punishment imposed on Dariusz F. should be more severe. According to the investigators, the issue of banning him from holding managerial positions should also be considered. Sebastian Woźniak, deputy head of the Bolesławiec District Prosecutor’s Office, lodged an objection to the court’s ruling.
The proceedings are now effectively starting over, under the ordinary procedure.
Dariusz F. did not answer our question about the trial.