The applicant, Sylwester Wolf, is a Polish national who was born in 1962 and lives in Czestochowa (Poland). He was arrested on 24 April 2001 and detained on remand. His detention was prolonged several times and his appeals for release were rejected. He was finally released on bail on 24 March 2005.
On 28 December 2005 the applicant was found guilty of being a member of an organised crime group involved in armed robbery and other violent offences and drug trafficking. He was also found guilty of selling cocaine and being illegally in possession of two firearms. He appealed. The proceedings are pending.
The applicant complained about the length of the proceedings, which lasted five years and seven months. He also complained about the length of his detention on remand which lasted three years and 11 months. He relied on Article 6 § 1 (right to a fair trial within a reasonable time) and Article 5 § 3 (right to liberty and security).
The Court held unanimously that there had been no violation of Article 6 § 1, that there had been a violation of Article 5 § 3 and that the finding of a violation constituted in itself sufficient just satisfaction in respect of non-pecuniary damage.
(from the official press-release prepared by the Registry Office of the European Court of Human Rights)