2026-01-16 16:47
publication
2026-01-16 16:47
The Sosnowice prosecutor's office accused Hanna Sz. of extorting over PLN 15 million from several dozen people by taking out loans from them and promising high profits. In fact, the money was spent on lavish living, and Sz. created the mechanism of a financial pyramid. Her son will also appear in court.
The prosecutor's office emphasized that as a result of the defendants' actions, many people lost their life savings.
About filing an indictment against Hanna and Szymon Sz. Mateusz Nowak from the press team of the District Prosecutor's Office in Sosnowiec announced on Friday. The case will be heard by the District Court in Sosnowiec. Investigators accuse both defendants of committing a total of 88 economic crimes.
According to the findings of the proceedings, Hanna Sz. took out loans from 66 people with a total value exceeding PLN 15 million. She promised them high returns on investment. “The funds obtained by the accused did not, in fact, constitute investment contributions. Instead, they served Hanna Sz. and her son to fulfill various, often very expensive whims. At the expense of misled, unsuspecting clients, Hanna Sz. and her relatives led a lavish life – collecting expensive cars, impressive real estate and a significant amount of cash,” described prosecutor Nowak.
As he added, in order to lull the vigilance of those deceived and hide her criminal activities, Hanna Sz. used the mechanism of a financial pyramid, repaying a small part of previously incurred liabilities using assets extorted from later customers. The defrauded include not only natural persons, but also banks to which Hanna Sz. presented dozens of forged documents, including: earnings certificates, accounting and tax documentation and a promissory note. As a result of the unlawful actions of the accused, many people lost their entire life savings, the prosecutor's office emphasized.
Szymon Sz. will answer to the court for committing crimes closely related to the activities conducted by his mother – money laundering, issuing a counterfeit bill of exchange and using unreliable bank documentation for the purposes of obtaining a loan. Regardless, he will also be charged with possession of drugs found on him during the search.
The extensive evidence in this case includes testimonies of witnesses and opinions of experts in numerous specialties, extensive accounting and banking documentation, as well as secured IT data.
Hanna Sz. she was arrested for over a year, this preventive measure was revoked at the last stage of the investigation, replacing it with police supervision and property bail. Libertarian preventive measures are also used against Szymon Sz. To cover the penalties facing the accused and to satisfy the victims' claims, the prosecutor secured property worth nearly one million zlotys.
The most serious charges against the accused Hanna Sz. offenses are punishable by up to 25 years' imprisonment. Szymon Sz., the most severe penalty – from one to 10 years in prison – may be imposed on circulating a forged bill of exchange. (PAP)
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