A man with two children was kidnapped by individuals posing as Interpol officers, driven over 100 miles, tortured, and set on fire in retribution for the loss of £1 million worth of cigarettes, according to court proceedings.
Tomasz Samel, aged 45, was reportedly taken from Birmingham in 2019 to the Liverpool region, where he endured a harrowing experience, sustaining severe injuries. Despite the ordeal, he managed to find help at a remote location, but tragically passed away in the hospital three months later.
Allegations suggest that the assault was a form of punishment for the seizure of illicit and fake cigarettes brought into the UK from Poland by HM Revenue and Customs.
During the trial, Harpreet Sandhu KC accused Neil Jones, Kevin Wooden, Kye Arthur, and Tobiasz Kozlowski of being responsible for Samel’s murder, planning to educate him at an isolated spot.
Wooden, Arthur, Jones, and Kozlowski have denied charges of murder and conspiracy to cause serious harm. The prosecutor detailed how Samel was kidnapped, transported in a van, tortured, and eventually set on fire in Merseyside.
Further testimony revealed that Jones and Kozlowski were present during the torture, while Wooden and Arthur were implicated in plotting the attack.
HM Revenue and Customs reportedly seized cigarettes from a location linked to Samel in Birmingham in February 2019, leading to the tragic sequence of events.
According to paramedics, Samel suffered extensive burns, with his genital area being particularly targeted by the fire. Police labeled the incident as one of the most horrific they had ever encountered.
The prosecution stated that Samel was likely naked and sitting when he was set ablaze. Jones admitted to manslaughter and related charges, while Wooden, Arthur, and Kozlowski pleaded not guilty to manslaughter allegations.
Kozlowski denied being part of the kidnapping and false imprisonment schemes, whereas Jones, Wooden, and Arthur admitted to certain charges related to the incident.
Wooden reportedly fled the country after a bounty was placed on his head following the attack, eventually being extradited from the Dominican Republic after a photo of him was circulated by West Midlands Police. He was arrested in July 2025 due to an international arrest warrant issued by Mexican authorities for a separate alleged crime.
The trial is ongoing.