Wojciech Janowski
Wojciech Janowski (born 15 August 1949) is a Polish-born Monegasque former businessman, diplomat, and philanthropist. In 2018, he was sentenced to life in prison for ordering the murder of his mother-in-law, Hélène Pastor.[1]
Wojciech Janowski | |
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Janowski in 2010 | |
Born | |
Nationality | Polish-Monegasque |
Occupation | Businessman, diplomat, philanthropist |
Spouse(s) | Sylvia Pastor |
Relatives | Hélène Pastor (mother-in-law) Gildo Pallanca Pastor (brother-in-law) |
Career
Janowski was the manager of hotels and casinos in Monaco.[2][3] Later, he served as the Chairman of Firmus SAM, a nanotechnology company.[2]
Janowski served as the Chair of the Polish Chamber of Commerce in Monaco.[2] He also served as Poland's honorary consul in Monaco until 2014.[2]
Philanthropy
Janowski is a co-founder of Monaco Against Autism (MONAA).[3] He was a recipient of the National Order of Merit for his philanthropy from French President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2010.[3]
Personal life
Janowski lived with Sylvia Pastor, the daughter of billionaire heiress Hélène Pastor, for 28 years, but they never married.[3]
Criminal trial and conviction
On 6 May 2014, Hélène Pastor and her chauffeur, Mohamed Dariouch, were shot by a gunman while traveling in Nice, France. Dariouch died on 11 May and Pastor died on 21 May.[1] In June 2014, Janowski admitted to ordering the shooting.[2] However, initially retracted his confession and said he was not guilty, claiming he was unable to understand the initial questions asked to him in French by police.[4] At the start of the trial in Monaco in 2018, he maintained that he was innocent, but five weeks later, Janowski, through his lawyer, formally admitted to ordering the shooting; the following day, he was sentenced to life in prison.[4]
References
- "Hélène Pastor murder: Polish son-in-law sentenced to life". BBC News. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- Samuel, Henry (27 June 2014). "Monaco heiress' son-in-law admits to 'involvement' in her murder". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
- Willsher, Kim (27 June 2014). "Monaco billionaire's son-in-law accused of ordering her murder". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
- Samuel, Henry (17 October 2018). "Polish diplomat sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Monaco's wealthiest woman Hélène Pastor". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 14 December 2020.