Fugitive whisky baron saved in jail over homicide bid and drug fees | UK | News | EUROtoday

Lucasz Ratajewski, 47, fled Poland 20 years in the past after being handed a three-year jail time period for possession of a handgun.

He lived a high-flying double life as Dariusz Plazewski, boss of Bimber Distillery, one among London’s first producers of English single malt whisky for over 100 years.

He launched this along with his accomplice Ewelina Chruszczyk in 2016 and launched a single malt in 2019.

He beforehand labored in property growth and building after settling in London in 2004.

But his previous returned to hang-out him in January when he was arrested after Polish prosecutors requested his extradition to face trial for conspiracy to try homicide and supplying medicine and to serve out the three-year firearms sentence from 2003.

He failed in a bid to be launched on bail in February as a result of “risk of flight” he posed. Now he has had a second try turned down by Mr Justice Fordham on the High Court, regardless of having beforehand supplied £200,000 as safety. Ratajewski was informed it was as a result of “very real prospect” he would repeat his disappearing act, “obtain a false ­identity document and build a new beginning from scratch in a completely new country.”

The courtroom heard Polish authorities issued an arrest warrant for Ratajewski 20 years in the past, however he slipped away beneath his pseudonym.

He constructed up his UK whisky enterprise utilizing his data of moonshine manufacturing gleaned from his father and grandfather. Bimber just lately put in force plans for a second distillery – Dunphail – in Speyside, Scotland, and employs 40 employees.

After his arrest Ratajewski admitted residing beneath a false id since arriving within the UK aged 26 however denies the costs towards him.

A full extradition listening to is scheduled for September in Westminster.

An announcement on Bimber’s web site after the preliminary failed bail utility mentioned: “Dariusz Plazewski has relinquished all responsibilities for both Bimber and Dunphail Distilleries.” It added Ms Chruszczyk and director of whisky creation Matt McKay will now lead the actions of each distilleries.