Ryszard Bogucki, once one of the richest Poles and a symbol of wild capitalism of the 1990s, today left the walls of the Herbach Penal Institution. After serving a full sentence of 25 years for the assassination of Andrzej Kolikowski, ps. "Pershing" – head of the Pruszkowski mob, the man returns to the world that has radically changed. He never confessed, and his first words after he left sound like a manifestation of a new beginning. What's he planning now? And why did he change his name?
Bogucki was released on Thursday, January 8, 2026, greeted by the family and surrounded by a crowd of journalists. On the footage from the scene, you can see a man dressed in an elegant suit leaving the prison gate and briefly answering media questions.
"Today is the first day of the rest of my life. This is first of all the time to meet with the family," said Bogacki, asking to respect his privacy. He did not want to develop the subject of his past, focusing on the future.
Who is Ryszard Bogucki? In the 1990s he was the personification of success in the new Poland. As a businessman from Rybnik, he made money in trade, importing cars and electronics among others. He drove Ferrari Testarossa, sponsored the Miss Polonia competition, and was seen as one of the wealthiest citizens of the country. His life changed dramatically in 1999 when Andrzej Kolikowski, ps. "Pershing", was shot in Zakopane during his vacation. Pershing was one of the leaders of the Pruszkowski mob, a criminal group controlling drug trafficking, racketeering and smuggling in Poland in the 1990s.
Bogacki was accused of inciting this murder. The trial lasted for years – in 2007, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison, though he never confessed. He claimed he was the victim of a court error. He was also suspected of killing General Mark Papala, but in this case he was acquitted in 2013. He served full sentence without prior parole, which is rare in the Polish prison system.
Before leaving Bogucki changed his name to Ryszard Linard-Bogucki. Reason? It coincides with the name of Zbigniew Bogucki, head of the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland. "I don't want to be associated with anyone else," he explained in court documents. Now, at the age of 63, he plans to "learn life again". The family waited for him for a quarter of a century – the wife and children are to be a priority. But that is not all: Bogacki announces a fight for a good name. He wants to make multimillion in damages for wrongful accusations and years behind bars. "I will try to make amends," he said in interviews before leaving.
There's no shortage of speculation. Is he going back to business? In the 1990s his empire was based on contacts and courage – today the world is smartphones, Crypto And the global economy. "He wants to do business again," reports the media, quoting his surroundings. But will the former "gangster of Rybnik" as it was called, find a place in new Poland? His story is a reminder of the turbulent times of systemic transformation when fortune mingled with crime.
Bogucki's exit raises emotions – from curiosity to controversy. One thing is certain: after 25 years of isolation, this man has a second life ahead of him. Will he reveal the secrets of the Pruszkowski mob? Time will tell.
