Founder of Dunphail Distillery Dariusz Plazewski (46) accused of living double life as he is arrested after conspiracy to murder charge
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THE founder of a newly-operational Moray distillery has been arrested after being charged with conspiracy to murder in his native Poland, according to national media reports.
Reports in The Times, The Telegraph and Mail Online state that Dunphail Distillery founder Dariusz Plazewski (46) has been accused of living a "double life" in the United Kingdom having fled Poland in 2004 to evade prison.
Mr Plazewski – whose birth name is Lucasz Ratajewski – is alleged to have left his homeland after being handed a three-year jail sentence for possessing a handgun.
He was arrested in January when Polish prosecutors requested that he be extradited and remains in custody after a bail application was rejected earlier in February.
A magistrate will decide on May 4 if Ratajewski will be returned to Poland – where he would face multiple charges including conspiracy to commit murder.
The High Court in London heard that he supplied an AK47 and ammunition to be used as a murder weapon in 1997. No murder occurred.
He also faces charges of conspiracy to supply cannabis, heroin and LSD, again dating back to his time in Poland.
Mr Ratajewski, under the name Dariusz Plazewski, founded Bimber Distilleries in 2015 and construction on Dunphail Distillery began in late 2021.
After 18 months of construction work, full production began on October 6, 2023. A visitor shop and tour function was in place early last year.
A delighted Mr Plazewski told The Forres Gazette at the time that a "life-long dream" had been fulfilled and the time and effort was "well worth it".
Around 40 people are currently employed at Dunphail Distillery.
