Poland to investigate human trafficking linked to Epstein scandal
Polish prosecutors have opened an investigation into suspected human trafficking connected to the criminal network of late US financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the National Prosecutor's Office announced on Wednesday.
According to National Prosecutor's Office spokesman Przemyslaw Nowak, the analytical team found reasonable grounds to suspect that "unspecified adult and underage females, including Polish nationals, were recruited in Poland under false pretences to work abroad." Investigators believe the victims were misled about the nature of the work they would be performing, transported outside Poland and then handed over for sexual exploitation.
Nowak said in the statement that the probe would cover the period from 2009 to 2019. He also announced that filing a request with two European countries to provide information and evidence under the European Investigation Order (EIO) would be one of the first steps in the investigation.
The probe follows the creation of a special analytical team in February by Poland's justice ministry, the prosecutor general, and the coordinator of special services. The group's task was to examine concerns that Polish minors may have been abused in connection with the US paedophilia scandal involving Epstein.
The move came after the US Department of Justice released millions of pages of documents related to the Epstein case, some of which suggested possible links to Poland.
Epstein is notorious for leveraging his high-level global connections to facilitate sex trafficking of minors.
Nowak urged any victims involved in the case to contact the investigative team. (PAP)
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