The Minister of Foreign Affairs has dismissed Wojciech Janowski as Poland’s Honorary Consul in Monaco after being questioned over the murder of his mother-in-law.
The decision has been prompted by what Warsaw has termed"‘loss of untarnished opinion necessary to perform this honorable function".
The Foreign Ministry communique states that"‘the post of Honorary Consul is a social activity and as such, it should be executed by a person of public trust, which under the circumstances is not the case".
According to a report by AFP, prosecutors in Marseilles have informed that Wojciech Janowski had admitted to involvement in the murder of his mother-in-law, Helene Pastor – heiress to one of the biggest family fortunes in Monaco said to be worth 20 billion euro.
Helene Pastor and her driver were shot by an unidentified gunman in Nice on 6 May. Both died in hospital as a result of wounds sustained.
The 64 year old Janowski and his wife Sylvia – the daughter of the victim - together with 22 other suspects were detained last week in connection with the crime. However, Janowski’s wife had been released from custody on Thursday without any charges.
Wojciech Janowski served as Poland’s Honorary Consul in Monaco since 2007. (ss/pg) source: PAP
Ewa Malcher
