Frenchman Accused of Kidnapping Man Linked to Daughter's Death
After 27 years, father of murdered girl takes justice into his own hands.
PARIS, Oct. 22, 2009 — -- For André Bamberski, the 27-year battle to bring his daughter's killer to justice has finally ended. But the day he has long awaited may also be the beginning of his own battle with the French justice system.
In 1995, German Dr. Dieter Krombach, who was the companion of Bamberski's estranged wife, was convicted in absentia in Paris for the death of Bamberski's daughter Kalinka, who died at Krombach's house July 9, 1982. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
The Germans refused to prosecute Krombach, or extradite him to France, citing insufficient evidence.
So Bamberski allegedly took matters into his own hands. On Sunday morning, Krombach, now 74, was found tied up, beaten and gagged on a small street near the courthouse of Mulhouse, France, near the French-German border.
The now retired cardiologist, who lives in Scheidegg, Germany, had been kidnapped from his home a few hours before he was found in France, police say.
Very quickly, all eyes turned on 71-year-old Bamberski, a retired certified public accountant, who happened to be in Mulhouse the same day Krombach was found. Bamberski was arrested and Tuesday night placed under investigation for "kidnapping, voluntary assault and battery, false imprisonment and criminal conspiracy." He could face up to 10 years in jail.
"I can confirm that I gave my consent for him to be brought to France. But I did not participate" in the kidnapping, Bamberski told reporters outside the Mulhouse courthouse after he was released on probation.
