Polish farmer ploughs up freshly laid road with tractor over land dispute, faces long prison term
A 60-year-old farmer in Poland used a tractor to tear up 200 metres of freshly asphalted road, claiming it was built on his land. He now faces up to 10 years in prison for intentional property damage.
Police in the Gliwice area of Poland have detained a 60-year-old farmer who used his tractor to destroy a freshly paved 200-metre stretch of road. During questioning, the man admitted causing the damage deliberately and stated he was prepared to do it again.
A dispute over ownership
The farmer claims the road was built on land belonging to him and that the paving work was carried out illegally. However, documents held by investigators show that the land actually belongs to the Gliwice municipality, not to the farmer.
Charges and possible punishment
Prosecutors have charged the man with intentional destruction of property. Under Polish law, such an offence carries a sentence of one to ten years in prison. A court has so far ordered the farmer held in pre-trial detention for three months. Police also confirmed the man was sober at the time of the incident.
Damage caused
Gliwice's mayor, Katarzyna Kuczyńska-Budka, said the damage is estimated at around 400,000 zloty, or roughly 93,000 euros. Not only was the new asphalt surface destroyed, but the road's foundation was also damaged, meaning repairs will have to start from scratch. Local residents reportedly waited years for the road to be renovated.
