Gliwice farmer arrested after destroying new asphalt road

A 60-year-old farmer has been placed in three-month temporary detention following the destruction of approximately 200 meters of freshly laid asphalt on Rybacka Street in Gliwice, Poland. Using a tractor equipped with a plow, the man destroyed the surface, causing damages estimated at approximately 300,000 PLN.

The individual claimed ownership of the land and asserted that the road construction was illegal. However, municipal records and land registry entries indicate the road has been property of the municipality since 2001. Investigators noted that the suspect had previously applied for the division of plots that included the land intended for the road.

The prosecutor's office has charged the man with destruction of property of significant value, a crime that carries a potential prison sentence of one to 10 years. The court justified the arrest based on the severity of the potential penalty and the risk of the suspect taking unlawful actions to avoid it. The Polish Ombudsman has launched an inquiry into the detention to ensure that the suspect's human rights and freedoms have not been violated.