PROCEDURE

The case originated in an application (no. 63391/00) against the Republic of Poland lodged with the Court under Article 34 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (“the Convention”) by a Polish national, Mrs Jadwiga Marszał (“the applicant”), on 7 July 1999.

The applicant was represented by Mr J. Zaleski, a lawyer practising in Katowice, Poland. The Polish Government (“the Government”) were represented by their Agents, Mr K. Drzewicki and subsequently Mr J. Wołąsiewicz , of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On 13 February 2003 the Court decided to communicate the application to the Government. Under the provisions of Article 29 § 3 of the Convention, it decided to examine the merits of the application at the same time as its admissibility.

THE FACTS

The applicant was born in 1954 and lives in Bytom, Poland.

A. Proceedings for compensation and reinstatement

The applicant worked as the head of the sales department in a coal mine “Rozbark” in Bytom. On 24 August 1994 she was dismissed from her job.

On 2 September 1994 she lodged a claim for compensation and reinstatement with the Bytom District Court of Labour (Sąd Rejonowy Wydział Pracy). Before 26 January 1995 the trial court held four hearings and heard evidence from one witness.

On 2 March 1995 the parties reached a friendly settlement and the District Court discontinued the proceedings. On 16 March 1995 the applicant’s lawyer asked the court to resume the proceedings, as the defendant company had failed to comply with the terms of the settlement. On 27 June 1995 the Katowice Regional Court (Sąd Wojewódzki) quashed the decision of 2 March and resumed the proceedings.

On 21 September 1995 the District Court held a hearing. On 23 October 1995 it stayed the proceedings until the conclusion of criminal proceedings against the applicant (referred to below). The applicant’s further appeal against that decision was dismissed by the Katowice Regional Court of Labour on 28 December 1995.

On 28 January 1999 the applicant asked the court to resume the proceedings. On 25 March 1999 the court held a hearing. On 29 October 1999 it dismissed her application. On 29 December 1999, on the applicant’s appeal, the Katowice Regional Court resumed the proceedings.

Between 9 March and 5 December 2000 the court held five hearings and heard evidence from five witnesses. On 5 December 2000 the Bytom District Court gave judgment. The court granted the applicant compensation and dismissed her claim for reinstatement. Both parties appealed.

On 8 May and 5 June 2001 the Regional Court held hearings. On 15 October 2001 the applicant sent a letter to the President of the Katowice Regional Court asking for a hearing date to be set.

On 21 November 2001 the Regional Court dismissed the defendant’s appeal. 20 December 2001 the Regional Court gave judgment and dismissed the applicant’s appeal. The judgment is final.

B. Criminal proceedings

On 30 December 1995 the Bytom District Prosecutor (Prokurator Rejonowy) submitted to the Bytom District Court (Sąd Rejonowy) a bill of indictment against the applicant and three other employees of the “Rozbark” coal mine. The applicant was charged with carrying out fraudulent financial operations. On 14 March 1996 the Bytom District Court returned the case-file to the District Prosecutor instructing him to complete the investigation. The District Prosecutor appealed. On 3 April 1996 the Katowice Regional Court (Sąd Wojewódzki) ordered the District Court to proceed with the case.

During the proceedings the District Court held fifteen hearings and heard evidence from several witnesses.

On 23 September 1998 the Bytom District Court delivered a judgment and acquitted the applicant. The District Prosecutor appealed.

On 8 February 1999 the Katowice Regional Court quashed the first-instance judgment and remitted the case to the prosecution authorities for a further investigation.

On 10 July 1999 the District Prosecutor ordered an expert opinion to be obtained. The expert submitted his opinion on 22 October 1999. On 2 August 1999 the Bytom District Prosecutor decided to stay the investigation until an expert on management prepared an opinion.

On 15 December 1999 the applicant sent a letter to the Regional Prosecutor complaining about the slow progress of the proceedings. On 20 March 2000 she sent another letter to the Minister of Justice (Minister Sprawiedliwości) asking about the progress of the investigation proceedings. In a letter of 14 March 2000 the Bytom District Prosecutor informed the applicant that there were difficulties in finding an expert competent to prepare an opinion.

On 30 April 2001 the expert on management submitted his opinion to the Prosecutor. The investigation was resumed on 2 July 2001.

On 28 December 2001 the District Prosecutor submitted to the Bytom District Court a bill of indictment against the applicant and three other persons.

On 28 August 2003 the Bytom District Court discontinued the criminal proceedings against the applicant.
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e1
001-66564_a4_em1
CODE
DIRECT
63391/00
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-66564_a4_e2
001-66564_a4_em2
ORG
NO_MASK
Republic of Poland
ETHNIC
insert
001-66564_a4_e3
001-66564_a4_em3
DEM
NO_MASK
Polish national
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e4
001-66564_a4_em4
PERSON
DIRECT
Mrs Jadwiga Marszał
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e5
001-66564_a4_em5
DATETIME
QUASI
7 July 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e6
001-66564_a4_em6
PERSON
QUASI
Mr J. Zaleski
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e7
001-66564_a4_em7
LOC
NO_MASK
Katowice, Poland
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-66564_a4_e8
001-66564_a4_em8
ORG
NO_MASK
Polish Government
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e9
001-66564_a4_em9
PERSON
NO_MASK
Mr K. Drzewicki
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e10
001-66564_a4_em10
PERSON
NO_MASK
Mr J. Wołąsiewicz
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-66564_a4_e11
001-66564_a4_em11
ORG
NO_MASK
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e12
001-66564_a4_em12
DATETIME
QUASI
13 February 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e13
001-66564_a4_em13
DATETIME
QUASI
1954
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e14
001-66564_a4_em14
LOC
QUASI
Bytom, Poland
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-66564_a4_e15
001-66564_a4_em15
ORG
QUASI
Rozbark
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e16
001-66564_a4_em16
LOC
QUASI
Bytom
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e17
001-66564_a4_em17
DATETIME
QUASI
24 August 1994
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e18
001-66564_a4_em18
DATETIME
QUASI
2 September 1994
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-66564_a4_e19
001-66564_a4_em19
ORG
QUASI
Bytom District Court of Labour (Sąd Rejonowy Wydział Pracy)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e20
001-66564_a4_em20
DATETIME
QUASI
26 January 1995
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e21
001-66564_a4_em21
DATETIME
QUASI
2 March 1995
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e22
001-66564_a4_em22
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e23
001-66564_a4_em23
DATETIME
QUASI
16 March 1995
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e24
001-66564_a4_em24
DATETIME
QUASI
27 June 1995
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-66564_a4_e25
001-66564_a4_em25
ORG
NO_MASK
Katowice Regional Court (Sąd Wojewódzki)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e26
001-66564_a4_em26
DATETIME
QUASI
2 March
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e27
001-66564_a4_em27
DATETIME
QUASI
21 September 1995
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e22
001-66564_a4_em28
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e28
001-66564_a4_em29
DATETIME
QUASI
23 October 1995
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e29
001-66564_a4_em30
ORG
NO_MASK
Katowice Regional Court of Labour
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e30
001-66564_a4_em31
DATETIME
QUASI
28 December 1995
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e31
001-66564_a4_em32
DATETIME
QUASI
28 January 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e32
001-66564_a4_em33
DATETIME
QUASI
25 March 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e33
001-66564_a4_em34
DATETIME
QUASI
29 October 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e34
001-66564_a4_em35
DATETIME
QUASI
29 December 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-66564_a4_e35
001-66564_a4_em36
ORG
NO_MASK
Katowice Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-66564_a4_e36
001-66564_a4_em37
DATETIME
QUASI
Between 9 March and 5 December 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-66564_a4_e37
001-66564_a4_em38
DATETIME
QUASI
5 December 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-66564_a4_e38
001-66564_a4_em39
ORG
QUASI
Bytom District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e39
001-66564_a4_em40
DATETIME
QUASI
8 May and 5 June 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e40
001-66564_a4_em41
ORG
NO_MASK
Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e41
001-66564_a4_em42
DATETIME
QUASI
15 October 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e35
001-66564_a4_em43
ORG
NO_MASK
Katowice Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e42
001-66564_a4_em44
DATETIME
QUASI
21 November 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e40
001-66564_a4_em45
ORG
NO_MASK
Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e43
001-66564_a4_em46
DATETIME
QUASI
20 December 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e40
001-66564_a4_em47
ORG
NO_MASK
Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e44
001-66564_a4_em48
DATETIME
QUASI
30 December 1995
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-66564_a4_e45
001-66564_a4_em49
ORG
QUASI
Bytom District Prosecutor (Prokurator Rejonowy)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-66564_a4_e46
001-66564_a4_em50
ORG
QUASI
Bytom District Court (Sąd Rejonowy)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-66564_a4_e15
001-66564_a4_em51
ORG
QUASI
Rozbark
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e47
001-66564_a4_em52
DATETIME
QUASI
14 March 1996
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e38
001-66564_a4_em53
ORG
QUASI
Bytom District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e48
001-66564_a4_em54
ORG
NO_MASK
District Prosecutor
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e48
001-66564_a4_em55
ORG
NO_MASK
District Prosecutor
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e49
001-66564_a4_em56
DATETIME
QUASI
3 April 1996
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e25
001-66564_a4_em57
ORG
NO_MASK
Katowice Regional Court (Sąd Wojewódzki)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e22
001-66564_a4_em58
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e22
001-66564_a4_em59
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e50
001-66564_a4_em60
DATETIME
QUASI
23 September 1998
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e38
001-66564_a4_em61
ORG
QUASI
Bytom District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e48
001-66564_a4_em62
ORG
NO_MASK
District Prosecutor
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e51
001-66564_a4_em63
DATETIME
QUASI
8 February 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e35
001-66564_a4_em64
ORG
NO_MASK
Katowice Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e52
001-66564_a4_em65
DATETIME
QUASI
10 July 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e48
001-66564_a4_em66
ORG
NO_MASK
District Prosecutor
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e53
001-66564_a4_em67
DATETIME
QUASI
22 October 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e54
001-66564_a4_em68
DATETIME
QUASI
2 August 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-66564_a4_e55
001-66564_a4_em69
ORG
QUASI
Bytom District Prosecutor
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e56
001-66564_a4_em70
DATETIME
QUASI
15 December 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e57
001-66564_a4_em71
ORG
NO_MASK
Regional Prosecutor
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e58
001-66564_a4_em72
DATETIME
QUASI
20 March 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-66564_a4_e59
001-66564_a4_em73
ORG
NO_MASK
Minister of Justice (Minister Sprawiedliwości)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e60
001-66564_a4_em74
DATETIME
QUASI
14 March 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e55
001-66564_a4_em75
ORG
QUASI
Bytom District Prosecutor
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e61
001-66564_a4_em76
DATETIME
QUASI
30 April 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e62
001-66564_a4_em77
ORG
NO_MASK
Prosecutor
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e63
001-66564_a4_em78
DATETIME
QUASI
2 July 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e64
001-66564_a4_em79
DATETIME
QUASI
28 December 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e48
001-66564_a4_em80
ORG
NO_MASK
District Prosecutor
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e38
001-66564_a4_em81
ORG
QUASI
Bytom District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e65
001-66564_a4_em82
DATETIME
QUASI
28 August 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66564_a4_e38
001-66564_a4_em83
ORG
QUASI
Bytom District Court
Jadwiga Marszał
POL
CHAMBER
Task: Annotate the document to anonymise the following person: Jadwiga Marszał