Polish Priest Accused of Abusing Minors Seeks Settlement

Yahoo! News
March 20, 2015

http://news.yahoo.com/trial-opens-polish-priest-abused-caribbean-minors-095941712.html

A Polish priest accused of abusing eight minors in the Dominican Republic and in Poland has sought settlement for a seven-year prison term, a court spokesman said Friday.

The priest, Wojciech Gil, has been under arrest since February 2014 on charges of abusing six minors at the Caribbean island between 2009 and 2013 and two in Poland in 2000-2001. The charges also included possession of child pornography and illegal possession of arms. He has denied the charges.

If convicted after full court proceedings, the 37-year-old could face up to 15 years in prison.

Court spokesman, Marcin Lochowski, told The Associated Press that the priest's attorney made a motion for a settlement and a seven-year prison term for the priest at the start of the closed-door trial in the Polish town of Wolomin.

The prosecutors have until Wednesday to decide whether they accept the offer, that would close the trial, or whether they want full proceedings that would take months. The prosecutors represent the Polish and the Dominican victims.

Reporters were barred from the courtroom and Gil was let in through the back door.

Gil is being tried in Poland because the eastern European country does not have an extradition agreement with the Dominican Republic, making a trial there impossible.