PROCEDURE

The case originated in an application (no. 73988/01) 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, Mr Janusz Łuczko (“the applicant”), on 3 April 2000.

The Polish Government (“the Government”) were represented by their Agent, Mr J. Wołąsiewicz of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On 4 July 2005 the President of the Fourth Section decided to give notice of the application to the Government. Under the provisions of Article 29 § 3 of the Convention, it was decided to examine the merits of the application at the same time as its admissibility.

THE FACTS

I. THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE

The applicant was born in 1962 and lives in Wydminy.

A. The first set of criminal proceedings against the applicant

On 8 February 2000 the applicant was arrested on suspicion of having committed three burglaries. On 10 February 2000 the Giżycko District Court (Sąd Rejonowy) ordered that the applicant be remanded in custody until 8 May 2000. It found that there were reasonable grounds for believing that the applicant had committed the offences in question and that he would obstruct the proper course of the proceedings. The applicant’s detention was subsequently prolonged by the District Court on unspecified dates. On 31 August 2000 the bill of indictment was filed with the court.

On 11 December 2000 the Giżycko District Court convicted the applicant of six counts of burglary and sentenced him to five years’ imprisonment. The applicant appealed against that judgment.

On 11 April 2001 the Regional Court (Sąd Okręgowy) quashed the first-instance judgment and ordered a retrial. The applicant was released on the same day.

On 19 February 2003 the Giżycko District Court convicted the applicant of five counts of burglary and sentenced him to four years’ imprisonment.

B. The second set of criminal proceedings against the applicant

On an unspecified date in February 2000 the applicant was charged with homicide. On 20 March 2000 the Giżycko District Court ordered that the applicant be detained for three months in view of the reasonable suspicion that he had committed the offence at issue. On 30 June 2000 the District Court ordered the applicant’s release. On 15 November 2000 the criminal proceedings against the applicant were discontinued.

C. The third set of criminal proceedings against the applicant

On 25 March 2002 the applicant was arrested on suspicion of burglary. On 27 March 2002 the Giżycko District Court ordered his detention on remand until 25 May 2002. It found that there was a reasonable suspicion that the applicant had committed burglary, having regard to the evidence obtained in the investigation. It also relied on the severity of the likely sentence given the fact that the applicant was a habitual offender. Lastly, it held that there was a risk that the applicant would tamper with evidence.

On 14 May 2002 the District Court ordered that the applicant be remanded in custody until 25 June 2002. On 21 June 2002 the applicant’s detention was further prolonged until 25 August 2002. The court relied on the same grounds as given in the original detention order.

In June 2002 the bill of indictment was filed with the District Court. The applicant was charged with two counts of burglary and intimidation of a witness.

On 22 August 2002 the District Court prolonged the applicant’s detention until 25 October 2002. His detention was further prolonged on 7 October 2002. On 23 January 2003 the applicant was released.

On 13 May 2003 the Giżycko District Court convicted the applicant as charged and sentenced him to 3 years and 2 months’ imprisonment.

4. The censorship of the applicant’s correspondence with the Court

The following of the applicant’s letters to the Court bear a stamp “Judge” (Sędzia) and an illegible signature: a) letter dated 25 September 2000 received by the Court on 2 October 2000. It appears that the envelope in which that letter was sent had been cut open and subsequently resealed with adhesive tape; b) letter dated 18 October 2000 received by the Court on 6 November 2000. That letter also bears a stamp “Giżycko District Court. Received 23 October 2000” (Sąd Rejonowy w Giżycku. Wpłynęło 23.10.2000) and an illegible signature. The envelope in which the letter was sent bears a stamp “Giżycko Detention Centre. Received 19 October 2000” (Areszt Śledczy w Giżycku. Wpłynęło 19.10.00). According to the postal stamp, the letter was posted on 24 October 2000; c) letter dated 19 October 2000 received by the Court on 30 October 2000. It appears that the envelope in which that letter was sent had been cut open and subsequently resealed with adhesive tape; d) letter dated 27 December 2000 received by the Court on 9 February 2001; e) letter dated 8 January 2001 received by the Court on 16 January 2001. The envelope in which that letter was sent bears a stamp “Giżycko Detention Centre. Received 8 January 2001” (Areszt Śledczy w Giżycku. Wpłynęło 08.01.2001). According to the postal stamp, the letter was posted on 11 January 2001. It appears that the envelope in which that letter was sent had been cut open and subsequently resealed with adhesive tape; f) letter dated 24 June 2002 received by the Court on 5 July 2002. Most of the envelopes in which those letters were sent, except for the letters dated 27 December 2000 and 24 June 2002, bear a hand-written note “SR Giżycko” (D[istrict] C[ourt] Giżycko).
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-77042_a4_e1
001-77042_a4_em1
CODE
DIRECT
73988/01
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-77042_a4_e2
001-77042_a4_em2
ORG
NO_MASK
Republic of Poland
ETHNIC
insert
001-77042_a4_e3
001-77042_a4_em3
DEM
NO_MASK
Polish national
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-77042_a4_e4
001-77042_a4_em4
PERSON
DIRECT
Mr Janusz Łuczko
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-77042_a4_e5
001-77042_a4_em5
DATETIME
QUASI
3 April 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-77042_a4_e6
001-77042_a4_em6
ORG
NO_MASK
Polish Government
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-77042_a4_e7
001-77042_a4_em7
PERSON
NO_MASK
Mr J. Wołąsiewicz
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-77042_a4_e8
001-77042_a4_em8
ORG
NO_MASK
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-77042_a4_e9
001-77042_a4_em9
DATETIME
QUASI
4 July 2005
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-77042_a4_e10
001-77042_a4_em10
DATETIME
QUASI
1962
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e11
001-77042_a4_em11
LOC
QUASI
Wydminy
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e12
001-77042_a4_em12
DATETIME
QUASI
8 February 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e13
001-77042_a4_em13
DATETIME
QUASI
10 February 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-77042_a4_e14
001-77042_a4_em14
ORG
QUASI
Giżycko District Court (Sąd Rejonowy)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-77042_a4_e15
001-77042_a4_em15
DATETIME
QUASI
8 May 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e16
001-77042_a4_em16
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-77042_a4_e17
001-77042_a4_em17
DATETIME
QUASI
31 August 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e18
001-77042_a4_em18
DATETIME
QUASI
11 December 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-77042_a4_e19
001-77042_a4_em19
ORG
QUASI
Giżycko District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-77042_a4_e20
001-77042_a4_em20
DATETIME
NO_MASK
five years
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e21
001-77042_a4_em21
DATETIME
QUASI
11 April 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-77042_a4_e22
001-77042_a4_em22
ORG
NO_MASK
Regional Court (Sąd Okręgowy)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e23
001-77042_a4_em23
DATETIME
QUASI
19 February 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e19
001-77042_a4_em24
ORG
QUASI
Giżycko District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e24
001-77042_a4_em25
DATETIME
NO_MASK
four years
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e25
001-77042_a4_em26
DATETIME
QUASI
February 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e26
001-77042_a4_em27
DATETIME
QUASI
20 March 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e19
001-77042_a4_em28
ORG
QUASI
Giżycko District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e27
001-77042_a4_em29
DATETIME
NO_MASK
three months
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e28
001-77042_a4_em30
DATETIME
QUASI
30 June 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-77042_a4_e16
001-77042_a4_em31
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e29
001-77042_a4_em32
DATETIME
QUASI
15 November 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e30
001-77042_a4_em33
DATETIME
QUASI
25 March 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e31
001-77042_a4_em34
DATETIME
QUASI
27 March 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e19
001-77042_a4_em35
ORG
QUASI
Giżycko District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e32
001-77042_a4_em36
DATETIME
QUASI
25 May 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e33
001-77042_a4_em37
DATETIME
QUASI
14 May 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-77042_a4_e16
001-77042_a4_em38
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e34
001-77042_a4_em39
DATETIME
QUASI
25 June 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e35
001-77042_a4_em40
DATETIME
QUASI
21 June 2002
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001-77042_a4_e36
001-77042_a4_em41
DATETIME
QUASI
25 August 2002
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001-77042_a4_e37
001-77042_a4_em42
DATETIME
QUASI
June 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e16
001-77042_a4_em43
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e38
001-77042_a4_em44
DATETIME
QUASI
22 August 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e16
001-77042_a4_em45
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e39
001-77042_a4_em46
DATETIME
QUASI
25 October 2002
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001-77042_a4_e40
001-77042_a4_em47
DATETIME
QUASI
7 October 2002
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001-77042_a4_e41
001-77042_a4_em48
DATETIME
QUASI
23 January 2003
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001-77042_a4_e42
001-77042_a4_em49
DATETIME
QUASI
13 May 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e19
001-77042_a4_em50
ORG
QUASI
Giżycko District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e43
001-77042_a4_em51
DATETIME
NO_MASK
3 years and 2 months
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e44
001-77042_a4_em52
DATETIME
QUASI
25 September 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e45
001-77042_a4_em53
DATETIME
QUASI
2 October 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e46
001-77042_a4_em54
DATETIME
QUASI
18 October 2000
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001-77042_a4_e47
001-77042_a4_em55
DATETIME
QUASI
6 November 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e19
001-77042_a4_em56
ORG
QUASI
Giżycko District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-77042_a4_e48
001-77042_a4_em57
MISC
QUASI
Giżycko District Court. Received 23 October 2000” (Sąd Rejonowy w Giżycku. Wpłynęło 23.10.2000)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e49
001-77042_a4_em58
DATETIME
QUASI
23 October 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e50
001-77042_a4_em59
ORG
QUASI
Sąd Rejonowy w Giżycku
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e51
001-77042_a4_em60
DATETIME
QUASI
23.10.2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-77042_a4_e52
001-77042_a4_em61
MISC
QUASI
Giżycko Detention Centre. Received 19 October 2000” (Areszt Śledczy w Giżycku. Wpłynęło 19.10.00)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-77042_a4_e53
001-77042_a4_em62
ORG
QUASI
Giżycko Detention Centre
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e54
001-77042_a4_em63
DATETIME
QUASI
19 October 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-77042_a4_e55
001-77042_a4_em64
ORG
QUASI
Areszt Śledczy w Giżycku
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-77042_a4_e56
001-77042_a4_em65
DATETIME
QUASI
19.10.00
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e57
001-77042_a4_em66
DATETIME
QUASI
24 October 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e54
001-77042_a4_em67
DATETIME
QUASI
19 October 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e58
001-77042_a4_em68
DATETIME
QUASI
30 October 2000
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001-77042_a4_e59
001-77042_a4_em69
DATETIME
QUASI
27 December 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e60
001-77042_a4_em70
DATETIME
QUASI
9 February 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e61
001-77042_a4_em71
DATETIME
QUASI
8 January 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e62
001-77042_a4_em72
DATETIME
QUASI
16 January 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e53
001-77042_a4_em73
ORG
QUASI
Giżycko Detention Centre
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e61
001-77042_a4_em74
DATETIME
QUASI
8 January 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e55
001-77042_a4_em75
ORG
QUASI
Areszt Śledczy w Giżycku
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-77042_a4_e63
001-77042_a4_em76
DATETIME
QUASI
08.01.2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-77042_a4_e64
001-77042_a4_em77
DATETIME
QUASI
11 January 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-77042_a4_e65
001-77042_a4_em78
DATETIME
QUASI
24 June 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e66
001-77042_a4_em79
DATETIME
QUASI
5 July 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-77042_a4_e59
001-77042_a4_em80
DATETIME
QUASI
27 December 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-77042_a4_e65
001-77042_a4_em81
DATETIME
QUASI
24 June 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-77042_a4_e67
001-77042_a4_em82
ORG
QUASI
“SR Giżycko” (D[istrict] C[ourt] Giżycko)
Janusz Łuczko
POL
CHAMBER
Task: Annotate the document to anonymise the following person: Janusz Łuczko