A military court in Warsaw has acquitted a Polish soldier of negligent use of a weapon after he accidentally shot a Syrian man near the Belarus border in 2023, Notes from Poland reports.
The second lieutenant, named only as Adam Ł., was chasing a group of migrants in Podlasie province when he slipped and his submachine gun fired two rounds. One hit the 23-year-old Syrian in the back. The soldier gave first aid, and the man later recovered and was granted asylum in Poland.
The judge said it was unclear how the incident unfolded and cited expert evidence that the gun may have been faulty. The Syrian's lawyer, who sought 50,000 zloty in compensation, said an appeal would be considered. Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz welcomed the verdict.
Source: Notes from Poland
