Summary

• Polish prosecutors charged Roman Ż. with organized crime and alleged misappropriation involving $2.1 million in Zondacrypto customer funds from exchange accounts.
• Court officials are considering pretrial detention because prosecutors cite flight risks, obstruction concerns, and ten-year prison sentences under Polish law.
• The investigation covers at least $94 million in reported losses and over 3,600 complaints requiring extensive financial and digital examination.

Polish prosecutors have charged Roman Ż. as the fifth publicly identified suspect in the criminal investigation involving cryptocurrency exchange Zondacrypto. According to Poland’s National Prosecutor’s Office, authorities detained Roman Ż. on September 5 and presented him with two charges.

Prosecutors accuse him of participating in an organized criminal group and misappropriating PLN 7.8 million belonging to exchange users. The disputed funds carry an estimated value of $2.1 million, adding another substantial allegation to the case.

Investigators allege the group manipulated computer records without authorization to secure financial benefits from assets entrusted to the cryptocurrency platform. Members allegedly changed, deleted, and added digital records while conducting the suspected operation involving customer funds.

However, Roman Ż. pleaded not guilty and provided explanations during questioning by investigators. Officials have not disclosed those explanations or identified his alleged role within the suspected criminal organization.

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Prosecutors Seek Detention as Investigation Expands

Prosecutors have asked the Katowice Wschód District Court to place Roman Ż. in pre-trial detention. They cited the possible punishment, obstruction concerns, and the risk that he might attempt to flee.

The alleged offenses carry maximum prison sentences of ten years, reflecting the seriousness of the accusations against him. Nevertheless, prosecutors must establish their claims through evidence, while Roman Ż. retains the right to challenge every allegation.

Roman Ż. joins four other people publicly charged in developments connected with the wider Zondacrypto investigation. Authorities charged Radosław P. in late August, while Anna P., Jaromira W., and Rafał Z. faced charges in September.

Significantly, prosecutors estimate that reported losses connected with Zondacrypto have reached at least PLN 350 million, or approximately $94 million. Investigators cautioned that the total could change as more alleged victims submit reports and supporting evidence.

Authorities have received more than 3,600 crime reports from people claiming losses connected with the cryptocurrency exchange. Consequently, investigators must review complaints, trace transactions, and determine how customer assets allegedly disappeared.

Digital evidence could become central to connecting individual defendants with the group’s suspected financial activities. Furthermore, investigators must establish whether altered records enabled unauthorized access, transfers, or misappropriation of customer funds.

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