Ex-head of Polish boys choir charged with abuse tested HIV positive: report

WARSAW (AFP) Feb 17, 2004
The former head of a celebrated Polish boys choir facing charges of sexually abusing three minors is HIV-positive, a Polish newspaper said Tuesday.

The diagnosis of Wojciech Krolopp, aged 56, was made in hospital after he became ill while in prison.

It showed he was suffering from a brain tumour. "Blood tests about 15 days ago showed he was HIV-positive," the Gazeta Wyborcza newspaper said citing "several sources".

There was no official confirmation of the report.

The head of the Polskie Slowiki choir, Wojciech Aleksander Krolopp, worked with the group for 43 years.

He was arrested last June and faces charges of sexually abusing three boys in the choir in the period from 1993 until 1997. He denies the charge. But if found guilty he could face 10 years in jail.

The accused led the choir which changed its name after the scandal broke last year on numerous tours across the world, including to the United States, France, Germany, Switzerland and the Vatican.

TERRA.WIRE