Police have tracked down the whereabouts of Father Wojciech Gil, one of two Polish priests wanted by Interpol on paedophile charges in the Dominican Republic.
Polskie Radio (www.thenews.pl)
02 October 2013 02.10.2013 08:44
Family home of Father Wojciech Gil in Modlnica near Krakow: photo – PAP/Jacek Bednarczyk
Police were notified by the Super Express tabloid, which reports that the 36 year-old priest is staying with his parents in the village of Modlnica near Krakow in southern Poland.
Police officers visited Father Gil at the residence and informed him that a warrant for his arrest had been issued by Interpol on charges of molesting under-age boys in the Dominican Republic.
“It turned out that the person sought by Interpol is actually present at the place indicated by Super Express,” said Mariusz Ciarka from the state prosecutors office in Krakow.
The priest was not detained by officers but informed that a warrant had been issued for his arrest and Interpol have been informed of his whereabouts, the prosecutor said.
An extradition process will now begin so Wojciech Gil can answer the charges against him in the Dominican Republic, where a wide-ranging investigation into paedophilia in the Roman Catholic church has led to charges made against 21 priests.
The whereabouts of another Polish priest, Archbishop Jozef Wesolowski – who worked as the Vatican’s representative in the Dominican Republic and who police also want to interview after paedophile allegations were made against him and a friend of Gil – is not known.
Holidays
Gil was on holiday in Poland in May this year, when news of the charges against him were reported in the Caribbean island where he had been working as a priest for the last eight years in the small town of Juncalito.
Polish media have reported that Gil took children on holiday several times to Poland, where they stayed with his parents.
The father of one of the alleged victims claims his son was molested by the priest for three years.
It is also being alleged that the priest groomed two other children by promising he would take them to the beach and on holiday to Poland if they dressed in bikinis and thong underwear and appeared in videos and photos.
Last Friday, the Polish Roman Catholic church apologised to victims of paedophilia on the island.
“The victims have been profoundly wronged. It is a very painful situation, and we sympathize with the victims because their trust has been violated. Sorry is the least that can be said,” said secretary of the Polish Episcopate, Bishop Wojciech Polak. (pg)
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Priest Accused of Child Sex Abuse Found in Poland
ABC News
02 October 2013 (AP)
AP
Polish police said Wednesday they have located a priest sought by Interpol on suspicion he sexually abused children in the Dominican Republic.
The Rev. Wojciech Gil, a Pole, was found in a location near the southern city of Krakow, police spokeswoman Katrzyna Cislo told The Associated Press. He was not detained because Interpol only asked to locate him. Gil, 36, was instructed to notify police of any change of location.
Cislo said that to arrest him, the police would need a request from Dominican investigators. Poland does not have an extradition treaty with the Dominican Republic.
A spokesman for Polish prosecutors said they are also investigating whether Gil committed any wrongdoing in Poland.
Gil was in Poland on vacation when the allegations surfaced in late May and has not returned to the Dominican Republic, where he led a parish in the mountain town of Juncalito for eight years. He has denied wrongdoing in phone calls to Dominican reporters.
Dominican Attorney General Francisco Dominguez Brito has indicated he wanted Gil to be tried in the Dominican Republic.
The father of one of the alleged victims has charged that his son was molested by the priest for about three years.
Dominican authorities are also investigating the former Vatican ambassador to the Caribbean country, Archbishop Jozef Wesolowski, also a Pole, over allegations of sexual abuse of teenage boys. His whereabouts are unknown since the Vatican removed him as apostolic nuncio on Aug. 21 after the allegations against him were made public.
‘Paedophile priest’ staying with parents in southern Poland
Police were notified by the Super Express tabloid, which reports that the 36 year-old priest is staying with his parents in the village of Modlnica near Krakow in southern Poland.
Police officers visited Father Gil at the residence and informed him that a warrant for his arrest had been issued by Interpol on charges of molesting under-age boys in the Dominican Republic.
“It turned out that the person sought by Interpol is actually present at the place indicated by Super Express,” said Mariusz Ciarka from the state prosecutors office in Krakow.
The priest was not detained by officers but informed that a warrant had been issued for his arrest and Interpol have been informed of his whereabouts, the prosecutor said.
An extradition process will now begin so Wojciech Gil can answer the charges against him in the Dominican Republic, where a wide-ranging investigation into paedophilia in the Roman Catholic church has led to charges made against 21 priests.
The whereabouts of another Polish priest, Archbishop Jozef Wesolowski – who worked as the Vatican’s representative in the Dominican Republic and who police also want to interview after paedophile allegations were made against him and a friend of Gil – is not known.
Holidays
Gil was on holiday in Poland in May this year, when news of the charges against him were reported in the Caribbean island where he had been working as a priest for the last eight years in the small town of Juncalito.
Polish media have reported that Gil took children on holiday several times to Poland, where they stayed with his parents.
The father of one of the alleged victims claims his son was molested by the priest for three years.
It is also being alleged that the priest groomed two other children by promising he would take them to the beach and on holiday to Poland if they dressed in bikinis and thong underwear and appeared in videos and photos.
Last Friday, the Polish Roman Catholic church apologised to victims of paedophilia on the island.
“The victims have been profoundly wronged. It is a very painful situation, and we sympathize with the victims because their trust has been violated. Sorry is the least that can be said,” said secretary of the Polish Episcopate, Bishop Wojciech Polak. (pg)
– See more at: http://www.thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/148817,Paedophile-priest-staying-with-parents-in-southern-Poland#sthash.WOkNo4Wl.dpuf
“Poland does not have an extradition treaty with the Dominican Republic.”
That’s not good news. Let’s hope and pray that either of his own volition, or with a healthy nudge from Church officials, Father Wojciech Gil returns tp the Dominican Republic to face his accusers and to see justice done.
“The whereabouts of another Polish priest, Archbishop Jozef Wesolowski – who worked as the Vatican’s representative in the Dominican Republic and who police also want to interview after paedophile allegations were made against him and a friend of Gil – is not known. ”
What gets me about this situation is that “the church” which claims to be able to help billions find Christ and the way to Heaven ….can’t find “two” of its very own flesh and blood members to provide them with a plane ticket to the Dominican Republic???!!!…
They either know it all or know nothing at all…and we should believe some of it!?
jg
I’s say best Polish police take father Gil into custody pending trial, or next thing you know he’ll be out of the country and into the Vatican, perhaps holed up with Archbishop wherever with Jozef Wesolowski, and enjoying the same diplomatic immunity?