Poland's most notorious gangster Ryszard Niemczyk was extradited from Germany to his homeland yesterday where he faces charges relating to some sixteen crimes, amongst them the murder of General Marek Papala, former Chief of Police.
Niemczyk escaped from detention in Wadowice, the Pope's home town, in October 2000. How he managed to flee the prison remains a mystery to this day, but it has been suggested that a huge bribe was paid to one of guards.
Niemczyk was apprehended in the German city of Mainz on April 27th where he was spotted lurking outside a bank.
As well as the execution of General Papala, Niemczyk also faces charges for the elimination of Andzrej 'Pershing' Kolikowski, a rival crime boss from Pruszkow outside Warsaw.
The authorities will be going to considerable lengths to prevent the gangster from giving the security services the slip for a second time running. At this moment it is unclear how large a bribe Niemczyk could muster, but it is to be imagined that the embarrassment of the last escape will be enough to ensure that he remains behind bars for the foreseeable future.
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