The Śródmieście District Court in Warsaw issued a prescriptive judgment condemning Katarzyna A., widely known as Grandma Kasia, for violating the bodily integrity of a police officer. The activist was fined 500 Polish zloty and required to reimburse 300 zloty to the officer who was hurt after being struck with a flagpole. The amount raised questions about the severity of the punishment.
Grandma Kasia convicted
On July 12, the Warsaw-Śródmieście District Court issued a court order against Katarzyna A. for hitting a police officer with a flagpole. The activist, nicknamed Grandma Kasia, received a sentence of 25 daily fines of 20 zloty each, totaling 500 zloty, plus an order to pay 300 zloty to the injured officer.
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– A political commentator claimed that the verdict shows it is possible to strike a police officer when the aim is to contest power and advocate for certain social causes.
– Reports posed the question of which punishment would be appropriate for a person described as a vulgar agitator involved in the incident.
The public prosecutor plans to appeal
The spokesperson for the Warsaw District Prosecutor’s Office, Prosecutor Szymon Banna, announced that the prosecutor will challenge the sentence, deeming it too lenient given the circumstances of the act and its public nature.
The Office stated that while there was agreement on guilt, the act involved was a clear violation of a police officer’s bodily integrity, and the court’s legal qualification of the act was acceptable. The sentence, consisting of 25 daily fines of 20 zloty each, was deemed excessively mild given the circumstances, including the public setting and the hooligan-like behavior involved.
Prosecutor Banna elaborated that Katarzyna A. faced charges under the Penal Code for harming an officer in the line of duty, noting that the intention behind the act did not justify the punishment obtained. The ruling remains subject to appeal.
Reaction on social media
The case drew intense discussion on social networks. Several commentators criticized the punishment as too lenient for an act described as aggressively confrontational toward law enforcement. Some pointed out the public prominence of the individual involved and questioned the degree of accountability in such cases.
Public figures voiced strong opinions. A member of parliament described the situation in stark terms, while other commentators suggested alternative sanctions that might better reflect the offense and its impact. The ensuing debate reflected broader tensions in public discourse about protests, police authority, and political rhetoric during demonstrations.
The discussion also referenced the incident’s date, which occurred during a protest held at a central square in Warsaw. Katarzyna A. was alleged to have damaged the officer by striking him with the flagpole while the officer protected the crowd. Prosecutors characterized the offense as hooliganistic in nature and connected to the broader context of public demonstrations.
Officials stressed that the matter remains a court decision that can be contested through the proper channels, and that legal processes continue until a final judgment is reached. The court did acknowledge the factual elements of the case, including the evidence presented and the general circumstances surrounding the event.
As the proceedings continued, observers noted the potential implications for how similar incidents are handled legally, and whether future cases might see different outcomes depending on the specifics of each incident and the public profile of those involved. The ongoing discussion highlighted the balance between safeguarding public order and protecting the rights of individuals engaged in protest movements.
In the end, Katarzyna A., also known as Grandma Kasia, faced penalties that included a monetary fine and compensation to the injured officer. The episode underscored ongoing debates about proportionality of punishment, public accountability, and the role of protests in national political life. The case continues to resonate with audiences following the intersection of activism, policing, and legal accountability in contemporary society.