Closing arguments were delivered this week in the landmark trial of a Polish bishop accused of failing to notify law enforcement promptly about abuse allegations, with a verdict expected at the end of October.
The prosecution and defense delivered their closing arguments Oct. 15 in the trial of Bishop Andrzej Jeż of Tarnów, southern Poland.
Jeż is accused of failing to promptly notify law enforcement after receiving credible information about alleged sexual offenses against children under 15 by two priests in his diocese. He denies the charges.
Prosecutor Marcin Stępień requested a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for three years, and a fine of 20,000 złotys (around $5,140), if the bishop is found guilty, the Polish Press Agency reported.
Stępień argued that the diocese reported the cases to law enforcement more than three years after an obligation to report sexual offenses against minors came into force in 2017.
He added that the diocese only reported allegations against one of the priests after they were publicized in a blog post. The prosecutor said the delay in reporting the allegations meant that
Read more...
