Andrzej Kolikowski
Encyclopedia
Andrzej Kolikowski nicknamed Pershing (1954–1999) was the leader of the so-called Pruszków Mafia in Poland and arguably the best-known Polish gangster of the 1990s. He was assassinated by his enemies while on vacation in Zakopane
.
Kolikowski was born in Ożarów Mazowiecki
. He was first arrested by the police at the age of 17. When he graduated from a car service school, he started working for a local cable factory. In 1980s he first went to West Germany
, from where he started smuggling dollars, cars and other goods unavailable in communist-controlled Poland. There he also met his later accomplices: Jeremiasz Barański (Baranina) and Nikodem Skotarczak (Nikoś). He invested the money in an illegal casino opened in Warsaw in late 1980s.
After Poland regained independence in 1989, Kolikowski formed a group of roughly 100 people supporting his business. Among the best-known of its members were Mirosław Danielak (nicknamed Malizna), Leszek Danielak (Wańka), Zygmunt Raźniak (Bolo), Andrzej Banasiak (Słowik) and Adam Szelast (Szelma). In 1992 the group joined the Pruszków Mafia, the largest and the most influential mob
at the time. As one of its leaders, Kolikowski started investing in legal ventures: record label
s, restaurant
s, discos and such. He is also often credited as the person behind the popularity of "disco polo
" music genre, promoted by the labels he owned or sponsored.
In 1994 he survived the first of assassination attempts: a bomb had been planted under his car. In August of that year he was arrested by the police, together with 19 members of the Pruszków
group. Accused of extortion
, handling
, counterfeit
and coercion
, two years later he was sentenced to four years in prison. About that time his group divided and one of the off-springs gained notoriety under the command of Marek Czarnecki (Rympałek).
Kolikowski left prison in 1998 and returned to his former activities. However, by that time the war over control of the Pruszków mafia was raging and his position was seriously endangered. In addition, one of the off-springs created after the arrest of the initial chiefs of the Pruszków group - dubbed the Wołomin Mafia - gained much influence. While on vacation, Kolikowski was killed in a shooting in Zakopane
on December 5, 1999. Ryszard Bogucki was convicted for the murder of Kolikowski and sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment, with the possibility of parole after 20 years.
Zakopane
Zakopane , is a town in southern Poland. It lies in the southern part of the Podhale region at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. From 1975 to 1998 it was in of Nowy Sącz Province, but since 1999 it has been in Lesser Poland Province. It had a population of about 28,000 as of 2004. Zakopane is a...
.
Kolikowski was born in Ożarów Mazowiecki
Ozarów Mazowiecki
Ożarów Mazowiecki is a town in Poland, just to the west of Warsaw, in Mazowsze Voivodship.It is the capital of Warsaw West County . Its population numbers 8,227 .-External links:*...
. He was first arrested by the police at the age of 17. When he graduated from a car service school, he started working for a local cable factory. In 1980s he first went to West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, from where he started smuggling dollars, cars and other goods unavailable in communist-controlled Poland. There he also met his later accomplices: Jeremiasz Barański (Baranina) and Nikodem Skotarczak (Nikoś). He invested the money in an illegal casino opened in Warsaw in late 1980s.
After Poland regained independence in 1989, Kolikowski formed a group of roughly 100 people supporting his business. Among the best-known of its members were Mirosław Danielak (nicknamed Malizna), Leszek Danielak (Wańka), Zygmunt Raźniak (Bolo), Andrzej Banasiak (Słowik) and Adam Szelast (Szelma). In 1992 the group joined the Pruszków Mafia, the largest and the most influential mob
Mafia
The Mafia is a criminal syndicate that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century in Sicily, Italy. It is a loose association of criminal groups that share a common organizational structure and code of conduct, and whose common enterprise is protection racketeering...
at the time. As one of its leaders, Kolikowski started investing in legal ventures: record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
s, restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
s, discos and such. He is also often credited as the person behind the popularity of "disco polo
Disco polo
Disco polo is a musical genre native to Poland, which has existed in its present form since the early 1990s. It was derived from contemporary folk tunes, music from the former eastern territories of Poland influenced by Ukrainian/Belarusian/Russian folk songs and italo disco.The name itself was...
" music genre, promoted by the labels he owned or sponsored.
In 1994 he survived the first of assassination attempts: a bomb had been planted under his car. In August of that year he was arrested by the police, together with 19 members of the Pruszków
Pruszków
Pruszków is a town in central Poland, situated in the Masovian Voivodeship since 1999. It was previously in Warszawa Voivodeship . Pruszków is the capital of Pruszków County, located along the western edge of the Warsaw urban area...
group. Accused of extortion
Extortion
Extortion is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime...
, handling
Handling
Handling stolen goods is the name of a statutory offence in England and Wales and Northern Ireland. It takes place after a theft or other dishonest acquisition is completed and may be committed by a fence or other person who helps the thief to realise the value of the stolen goods...
, counterfeit
Counterfeit
To counterfeit means to illegally imitate something. Counterfeit products are often produced with the intent to take advantage of the superior value of the imitated product...
and coercion
Coercion
Coercion is the practice of forcing another party to behave in an involuntary manner by use of threats or intimidation or some other form of pressure or force. In law, coercion is codified as the duress crime. Such actions are used as leverage, to force the victim to act in the desired way...
, two years later he was sentenced to four years in prison. About that time his group divided and one of the off-springs gained notoriety under the command of Marek Czarnecki (Rympałek).
Kolikowski left prison in 1998 and returned to his former activities. However, by that time the war over control of the Pruszków mafia was raging and his position was seriously endangered. In addition, one of the off-springs created after the arrest of the initial chiefs of the Pruszków group - dubbed the Wołomin Mafia - gained much influence. While on vacation, Kolikowski was killed in a shooting in Zakopane
Zakopane
Zakopane , is a town in southern Poland. It lies in the southern part of the Podhale region at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. From 1975 to 1998 it was in of Nowy Sącz Province, but since 1999 it has been in Lesser Poland Province. It had a population of about 28,000 as of 2004. Zakopane is a...
on December 5, 1999. Ryszard Bogucki was convicted for the murder of Kolikowski and sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment, with the possibility of parole after 20 years.