PROCEDURE

The case originated in an application (no. 8363/04) 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, Sebastian Kliza (“the applicant”), on 20 February 2004.

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

On 7 April 2006 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, Mr Sebastian Kliza, is a Polish national who was born in 1978 and lives in Mikołów, Poland.

A. The applicant's pre-trial detention

The applicant was arrested on 26 January 2001 on suspicion of having committed a series of armed robberies as a member of an organised criminal group. On 28 January 2001 the Tychy District Court (Sąd Rejonowy) ordered that he be detained pending the outcome of the investigation.

On 9 April 2001 the Katowice Regional Court (Sąd Okręgowy) prolonged his detention until 17 July 2001. It referred to the likelihood of a severe sentence of imprisonment being imposed on the applicant. It also stressed that his detention was justified by the need to obtain further evidence.

On 9 July 2001 the Katowice Regional Court prolonged his detention until 17 October 2001. It relied on the reasonable suspicion that the applicant had committed the offences with which he had been charged, which was supported by evidence from witnesses and experts. The court further considered that the need to secure the proper conduct of the investigation justified holding him in custody. It referred to the likelihood of a severe sentence of imprisonment being imposed on the applicant. It also relied on the risk that he might tamper with evidence.

On 8 October 2001 the Katowice Regional Court prolonged the applicant's detention until 17 January 2002. It repeated the grounds previously given for his detention.

On an unspecified date in January 2002, the applicant was indicted before the Tychy District Court. The bill of indictment comprised 44 charges of armed robbery committed by an organised criminal group. The charges in the bill of indictment concerned 4 co-accused.

During the proceedings the applicant's detention was extended on several occasions. On 15 January 2002 the Tychy District Court prolonged his detention until 17 July 2002. On 8 July 2002 the court ordered that the term should be prolonged until 17 October 2002. On 16 October 2002 it ordered that the applicant be kept in custody until 17 January 2003. It referred to the grounds for detention listed in the previous decisions.

On 2 January 2003 the Tychy District Court prolonged the applicant's detention until 26 January 2003. It repeated the grounds that had been given in the previous decisions and added that the case was complex, given the number of accused and victims. It further observed that the trial had not yet begun for reasons beyond the trial court's control.

On 22 January 2003 the Katowice Court of Appeal (Sąd Apelacyjny), on an application from the trial court, prolonged the applicant's detention until 26 June 2003. It repeated the grounds previously given for the applicant's detention. It also found that there were no special grounds, as specified in Article 259 § 1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, that would justify lifting the detention and imposing a less severe measure.

On 25 June 2003, on an application from the Tychy District Court, the Katowice Court of Appeal extended the applicant's detention until 26 October 2003. The court relied on a strong suspicion that the applicant had committed the offences in question. The court also considered that, given the severity of the likely sentence and the fact that the applicant had been charged with acting in an organised criminal group, there was a risk that he would obstruct the proper course of the proceedings. It also acknowledged the delay in the proceedings and asked the trial court to expedite the examination of the case.

On 22 October 2003 the Katowice Court of Appeal, on an application from the Tychy District Court, prolonged the applicant's detention until 26 January 2004. It also stated that the proceedings were inordinately lengthy.

Subsequently, on 7 January 2004 the Katowice Court of Appeal, on an application from the trial court, prolonged the applicant's detention until 26 March 2004. On 17 March 2004 the Katowice Court of Appeal, on an application from the trial court, prolonged the applicant's detention until 26 May 2004. It stated that the delays in the proceedings were to a large extent caused by the failure to escort the accused to the court and the lack of discipline on the part of the parties to the proceedings.

In the meantime, the District Court had proceeded with the trial. Hearings listed for 10 May and 3 July 2002 were postponed. A hearing scheduled for 20 August 2002 was adjourned upon the request of one of the lawyers.

Of 17 hearings held between 30 January 2003 and 19 December 2003 10 were adjourned.

From 23 January to 2 April 2004 the court held 7 hearings. One of them was adjourned on account of the absence of one of the lawyers.

In the course of the proceedings the applicant made numerous, unsuccessful applications for release and appealed, likewise unsuccessfully, against refusals to release him and decisions extending his detention.

On 9 April 2004 the Tychy District Court convicted the applicant as charged and sentenced him to 8 years' imprisonment. He appealed.

The applicant's detention was subsequently prolonged on several occasions.

On 11 February 2005 the Katowice Regional Court amended the trial court's judgment, acquitted the applicant of the charge of acting in an organised criminal group and reduced the applicant's sentence to 6 years' imprisonment.

The applicant did not lodge a cassation appeal with the Supreme Court (Sąd Najwyższy).

In the meantime, between 13 September 2001 and 10 November 2002 and, subsequently, between 11 June 2003 and 11 November 2003 the applicant served prison sentences which had been imposed on him in other criminal proceedings.

B. Monitoring of the applicant's correspondence

On 1 March 2004 the Court received the applicant's first letter of 8 February 2004. The letter was sent while the applicant was detained in the Zabrze Detention Centre. The envelope bears the following stamps: “Zabrze Detention Centre received on 16.02.2004” (Areszt Śledczy w Zabrzu Wpłynęło dnia 16.02.2004) and “District Court in Tychy, censored” (Sąd Rejonowy w Tychach, cenzurowano), a hand-written sentence: “Z: without censorship” (Z: bez cenzury), a hand-written date: “18.2.4”, and an illegible signature.

On 27 April 2004 the Court received the applicant's application form. The envelope in which the application form was delivered bears the following stamps: “Zabrze Detention Centre received on 8.04.2004” (Areszt Śledczy w Zabrzu Wpłynęło dnia 8.04.2004) and “District Court in Tychy, censored” (Sąd Rejonowy w Tychach, cenzurowano), and an illegible signature.
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e1
001-82173_a2_em1
CODE
DIRECT
8363/04
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-82173_a2_e2
001-82173_a2_em2
ORG
QUASI
Republic of Poland
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e3
001-82173_a2_em3
DEM
QUASI
Polish
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e4
001-82173_a2_em4
PERSON
DIRECT
Sebastian Kliza
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e5
001-82173_a2_em5
DATETIME
QUASI
20 February 2004
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e3
001-82173_a2_em6
DEM
QUASI
Polish
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e6
001-82173_a2_em7
PERSON
QUASI
Mr J. Wołąsiewicz
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e7
001-82173_a2_em8
ORG
NO_MASK
Ministry of Foreign Affaires
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e8
001-82173_a2_em9
DATETIME
QUASI
7 April 2006
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e9
001-82173_a2_em10
PERSON
DIRECT
Mr Sebastian Kliza
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e3
001-82173_a2_em11
DEM
QUASI
Polish
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e10
001-82173_a2_em12
DATETIME
QUASI
1978
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e11
001-82173_a2_em13
LOC
QUASI
Mikołów, Poland
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e12
001-82173_a2_em14
DATETIME
QUASI
26 January 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e13
001-82173_a2_em15
DATETIME
QUASI
28 January 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e14
001-82173_a2_em16
ORG
QUASI
Tychy District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-82173_a2_e14
001-82173_a2_em17
ORG
QUASI
001-82173_a2_em16
Sąd Rejonowy
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e15
001-82173_a2_em18
DATETIME
QUASI
9 April 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e16
001-82173_a2_em19
ORG
QUASI
Katowice Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-82173_a2_e16
001-82173_a2_em20
ORG
QUASI
001-82173_a2_em19
Sąd Okręgowy
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e17
001-82173_a2_em21
DATETIME
QUASI
17 July 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e18
001-82173_a2_em22
DATETIME
QUASI
9 July 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e16
001-82173_a2_em23
ORG
QUASI
Katowice Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e19
001-82173_a2_em24
DATETIME
QUASI
17 October 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e20
001-82173_a2_em25
DATETIME
QUASI
8 October 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e16
001-82173_a2_em26
ORG
QUASI
Katowice Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e21
001-82173_a2_em27
DATETIME
QUASI
17 January 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e22
001-82173_a2_em28
DATETIME
QUASI
January 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e14
001-82173_a2_em29
ORG
QUASI
Tychy District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-82173_a2_e23
001-82173_a2_em30
QUANTITY
QUASI
44 charges
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-82173_a2_e24
001-82173_a2_em31
QUANTITY
QUASI
4 co-accused
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e25
001-82173_a2_em32
DATETIME
QUASI
15 January 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e14
001-82173_a2_em33
ORG
QUASI
Tychy District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e26
001-82173_a2_em34
DATETIME
QUASI
17 July 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e27
001-82173_a2_em35
DATETIME
QUASI
8 July 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e28
001-82173_a2_em36
DATETIME
QUASI
17 October 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e29
001-82173_a2_em37
DATETIME
QUASI
16 October 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e30
001-82173_a2_em38
DATETIME
QUASI
17 January 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e31
001-82173_a2_em39
DATETIME
QUASI
2 January 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e14
001-82173_a2_em40
ORG
QUASI
Tychy District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e32
001-82173_a2_em41
DATETIME
QUASI
26 January 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e33
001-82173_a2_em42
DATETIME
QUASI
22 January 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e34
001-82173_a2_em43
ORG
QUASI
Katowice Court of Appeal
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-82173_a2_e34
001-82173_a2_em44
ORG
QUASI
001-82173_a2_em43
Sąd Apelacyjny
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e35
001-82173_a2_em45
DATETIME
QUASI
26 June 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-82173_a2_e36
001-82173_a2_em46
MISC
QUASI
Article 259 § 1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e37
001-82173_a2_em47
DATETIME
QUASI
25 June 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e14
001-82173_a2_em48
ORG
QUASI
Tychy District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e34
001-82173_a2_em49
ORG
QUASI
Katowice Court of Appeal
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e38
001-82173_a2_em50
DATETIME
QUASI
26 October 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e39
001-82173_a2_em51
DATETIME
QUASI
22 October 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e34
001-82173_a2_em52
ORG
QUASI
Katowice Court of Appeal
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e14
001-82173_a2_em53
ORG
QUASI
Tychy District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e40
001-82173_a2_em54
DATETIME
QUASI
26 January 2004
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e41
001-82173_a2_em55
DATETIME
QUASI
7 January 2004
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e34
001-82173_a2_em56
ORG
QUASI
Katowice Court of Appeal
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e42
001-82173_a2_em57
DATETIME
QUASI
26 March 2004
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e43
001-82173_a2_em58
DATETIME
QUASI
17 March 2004
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e34
001-82173_a2_em59
ORG
QUASI
Katowice Court of Appeal
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e44
001-82173_a2_em60
DATETIME
QUASI
26 May 2004
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e45
001-82173_a2_em61
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e46
001-82173_a2_em62
DATETIME
QUASI
10 May and 3 July 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e47
001-82173_a2_em63
DATETIME
QUASI
20 August 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e48
001-82173_a2_em64
DATETIME
QUASI
between 30 January 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e49
001-82173_a2_em65
DATETIME
QUASI
19 December 2003 10
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e50
001-82173_a2_em66
DATETIME
QUASI
23 January to 2 April 2004
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-82173_a2_e51
001-82173_a2_em67
QUANTITY
QUASI
7 hearings
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e52
001-82173_a2_em68
DATETIME
QUASI
9 April 2004
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e14
001-82173_a2_em69
ORG
QUASI
Tychy District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-82173_a2_e53
001-82173_a2_em70
DATETIME
NO_MASK
8 years
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e54
001-82173_a2_em71
DATETIME
QUASI
11 February 2005
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e16
001-82173_a2_em72
ORG
QUASI
Katowice Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-82173_a2_e55
001-82173_a2_em73
DATETIME
NO_MASK
6 years
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e56
001-82173_a2_em74
ORG
NO_MASK
001-82173_a2_em75
Supreme Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-82173_a2_e56
001-82173_a2_em75
ORG
QUASI
Sąd Najwyższy
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e57
001-82173_a2_em76
DATETIME
QUASI
between 13 September 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e58
001-82173_a2_em77
DATETIME
QUASI
10 November 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e59
001-82173_a2_em78
DATETIME
QUASI
between 11 June 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e60
001-82173_a2_em79
DATETIME
QUASI
11 November 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e61
001-82173_a2_em80
DATETIME
QUASI
1 March 2004
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e62
001-82173_a2_em81
DATETIME
QUASI
8 February 2004
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e63
001-82173_a2_em82
LOC
QUASI
Zabrze Detention Centre
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e63
001-82173_a2_em83
LOC
QUASI
Zabrze Detention Centre
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-82173_a2_e64
001-82173_a2_em84
DATETIME
QUASI
16.02.2004
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-82173_a2_e65
001-82173_a2_em85
MISC
QUASI
Areszt Śledczy w Zabrzu Wpłynęło dnia 16.02.2004)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e64
001-82173_a2_em86
DATETIME
QUASI
16.02.2004
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e45
001-82173_a2_em87
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e66
001-82173_a2_em88
LOC
QUASI
Tychy
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-82173_a2_e67
001-82173_a2_em89
MISC
QUASI
Sąd Rejonowy w Tychach
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-82173_a2_e68
001-82173_a2_em90
DATETIME
QUASI
18.2.4
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e69
001-82173_a2_em91
DATETIME
QUASI
27 April 2004
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-82173_a2_e63
001-82173_a2_em92
LOC
QUASI
Zabrze Detention Centre
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e70
001-82173_a2_em93
DATETIME
QUASI
8.04.2004
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-82173_a2_e71
001-82173_a2_em94
MISC
QUASI
Areszt Śledczy w Zabrzu Wpłynęło dnia 8.04.2004
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e72
001-82173_a2_em95
ORG
QUASI
Zabrzu Wpłynęło
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e70
001-82173_a2_em96
DATETIME
QUASI
8.04.2004
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e45
001-82173_a2_em97
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e66
001-82173_a2_em98
LOC
QUASI
Tychy
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-82173_a2_e67
001-82173_a2_em99
MISC
QUASI
Sąd Rejonowy w Tychach
Sebastian Kliza
POL
CHAMBER
Task: Annotate the document to anonymise the following person: Sebastian Kliza