PROCEDURE

The case originated in an application (no. 38872/03) against the Republic of Poland lodged with the Court under Article 34 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (“the Convention”) by Mr. J. Bogdanowicz (“the applicant”). The applicant was represented by Mr. K. Woliński, a lawyer practising in Gdańsk.

The Polish Government (“the Government”) were represented by their Agent, Mr. J. Wołąsiewicz of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On 26 September 2005 the Court decided to give notice of the application to the Government. Applying Article 29 § 3 of the Convention, it decided to rule on the admissibility and merits of the application at the same time.

THE FACTS

THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE

The applicant was born in 1953 and lives in Gdynia. The applicant’s detention for the purpose of the first set of criminal proceedings

On 5 September 2003 the applicant was arrested and placed in custody. He was suspected of having committed offences of kidnapping and acting in an organisation of a criminal character.

On an unknown date the Gdańsk District Court ordered that the applicant be detained until 14 December 2003. The court based its detention order on a reasonable suspicion that the applicant had committed the offences and on the severity of the likely penalty, which gave rise to a fear that the applicant would obstruct the proceedings. The court also stressed his relapse into crime.

Subsequent decisions as to the extension of the applicant’s pre-trial detention were taken on 25 November 2003, 18 December 2003, 17 February 2004, 3 June 2004, 28 September 2004, 22 December 2004 and 30 March 2005.

In all the above-mentioned decisions the courts mainly relied on the same grounds for detention as those given for the making of the first detention order. In addition, they indicated the need to conduct further investigations and the probable collusion of the accused.

On many occasions the applicant unsuccessfully requested his release from detention and, also unsuccessfully, appealed against decisions extending his pre-trial detention.

On 4 February 2004 a bill of indictment was filed against the applicant and thirteen co-accused. The applicant was charged with kidnapping and acting in an organisation of a criminal character.

From 30 September 2004 to 4 May 2005 the applicant was serving a prison sentence in respect of another conviction.

On 30 June 2004 the first hearing was held before the Gdańsk Regional Court. Hearings scheduled for 14 and 22 September 2004 were postponed due to the necessity of replacing one of the judges.

On 6 October 2004 a new judge was assigned to the case.

Subsequent hearings were held on 5 January 2005, 12 January 2005, 2 March 2005, 9 March 2005, 16 March 2005, 30 March 2005, 6 April 2005, 13 April 2005, 27 April 2005, 4 May 2005, 18 May 2005, 30 May 2005, 1 June 2005, 15 June 2005, 29 June 2005, 19 July 2005, 17 August 2005, 7 September 2005, 21 September 2005, 13 October 2005, 9 November 2005, 7 December 2005, 21 December 2005, 11 January 2006, 8 February 2006, 1 March 2006 and 29 March 2006.

The applicant’s pre-trial detention ended on 1 June 2005.

The proceedings are pending before the first-instance court. The length of the second set of criminal proceedings and the applicant’s pre-trial detention in their respect

On 18 April 2002 the applicant was arrested and placed in custody.

On 19 April 2002 the Gdańsk District Court ordered that the applicant be detained for three months on suspicion of having committed armed robbery and having acted in an organisation of a criminal character. The court based its detention order on a reasonable suspicion that the applicant had committed the offences and on the severity of the likely penalty, which gave rise to a fear that the applicant would obstruct the proceedings.

From 18 April 2002 to 28 August 2003 the applicant was serving a prison sentence in respect of another conviction.

The applicant’s detention was extended on the following dates: 9 July 2002, 12 September 2002, 23 May 2003, 25 July 2003, 28 November 2003, 23 March 2004, 7 April 2004 and 22 June 2004.

In all the above-mentioned decisions the courts mainly relied on the same grounds for detention as those given for the making of the first detention order. In some of the decisions, the courts also indicated the need to conduct further investigations.

On 12 December 2002 a bill of indictment was filed against the applicant and eighteen co-accused. The applicant was charged with armed robbery and acting in an organisation of a criminal character.

The first hearing, scheduled for 25 April 2005, was cancelled due to a judge’s illness.

Subsequent hearings were held on 16 May 2003, 23 May 2003, 13 June 2003, 24 June 2003, 27 June 2003, 1 December 2003, 19 December 2003, 29 December 2003. In January and February 2004 altogether five hearings were held. Hearings scheduled for 18 March 2004 and 1 April 2004 were cancelled due to a judge’s illness. Subsequently, hearings were held on 21 May 2004, 28 May 2004, 18 June 2004, 23 July 2004, 17 September 2004, 22 October 2004, 19 November 2004, 28 January 2005, 25 February 2005, 25 March 2005, 15 April 2005 and 22 April 2005.

On 30 September 2004 the applicant was released from detention.

On 14 December 2004 the applicant’s complaint lodged under the Law of 17 June 2004 on complaints about a breach of the right to a trial within a reasonable time was rejected on formal grounds.

On 29 April 2005 the Gdańsk Regional Court convicted the applicant of the offences and sentenced him to three years’ imprisonment. On 13 February 2006 the applicant appealed.

The proceedings are pending before the Gdańsk Court of Appeal.