EUROPEAN COMMISSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Application No. 28440/95

Zuhdija Husic

against

Austria

REPORT OF THE COMMISSION

(adopted on 3 June 1999)

Page

INTRODUCTION .......................................................... 1

PART I : STATEMENT OF THE FACTS ...................................... 3

PART II : SOLUTION REACHED ............................................ 4

INTRODUCTION

1 . This Report relates to the application introduced under former [1] Article 25 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms by Mr Zuhdija Husic against Austria on 31 May 1995.  It was registered on 4 September 1995 under file No. 28440/95.

2 . The applicant was represented by Mr. Orgler, a lawyer practising in Innsbruck.

3 . The Government of Austria were represented by their Agent, Mr F. Cede, Ambassador, Head of the International Law Department at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

4 . On 22 October 1998 the Commission (First Chamber) declared the application partially admissible insofar as it concerns the applicant’s complaint that in criminal proceedings against him the judge made statements which cast doubt on his impartiality.  It then proceeded to carry out its task under former Article 28 § 1 of the Convention which provides as follows:

"In the event of the Commission accepting a petition referred to it:

a. it shall, with a view to ascertaining the facts, undertake together with the representatives of the parties an examination of the petition and, if need be, an investigation, for the effective conduct of which the States concerned shall furnish all necessary facilities, after an exchange of views with the Commission;

b. it shall at the same time place itself at the disposal of the parties concerned with a view to securing a friendly settlement of the matter on the basis of respect for Human Rights as defined in this Convention."

5 . Pursuant to the entry into force of Protocol No. 11 of the Convention, the application was transferred to the Commission sitting in Plenary.

6 . The Commission found that the parties had reached a friendly settlement of the case and on 3 June 1999. it adopted this Report, which, in accordance with former Article 28 § 2 of the Convention, is confined to a brief statement of the facts and of the solution reached.

7 . The following members were present when the Report was adopted:

MM S. TRECHSEL, President

E. BUSUTTIL

G. JÖRUNDSSON

A. WEITZEL

J.-C. SOYER

H. DANELIUS

Mrs G.H. THUNE

MM F. MARTINEZ

C.L. ROZAKIS

Mrs J. LIDDY

MM L. LOUCAIDES

J.-C. GEUS

M.P. PELLONPÄÄ

B. MARXER

M.A. NOWICKI

I. CABRAL BARRETO

Sir Nicolas BRATZA

MM I. BÉKÉS

D. ŠVÁBY

G. RESS

A. PERENI Č

K. HERNDL

E. BIELIŪNAS

E.A. ALKEMA

M. VILA AMIGÓ

Mrs M. HION

MM R. NICOLINI

A. ARABADJIEV

PART I

STATEMENT OF THE FACTS

8 . The applicant is a Bosnian citizen, born in 1955 and residing in Kufstein.

9 . In 1994 criminal proceedings against the applicant were instituted before the Innsbruck Regional Court ( Landesgericht ).  He was charged with attempted aggravated coercion, attempted incitement to fraud and the causing of bodily harm.  On 12 December 1994 a hearing in the applicant’s trial took place before the Regional Court.  Upon being questioned by the applicant’s defence counsel one witness said that the applicant was Yugoslav.  Asked by the defence counsel to explain the difference between a Turkish and a Yugoslav worker, as he had done outside the courtroom, the witness made negative remarks on Yugoslav workers in general.  Thereupon the judge made the comment that this impression was consistent with his own. The defence counsel immediately challenged the judge for bias, but the judge dismissed this motion.  On 3 February 1995 the Regional Court convicted the applicant of having caused bodily harm and acquitted him of the further charges.  On 24 May 1995 the Innsbruck Court of Appeal ( Oberlandesgericht ) dismissed the applicant’s appeal finding, inter alia , that the judge’s remark at the hearing on 12 December 1994 had no connection with the charge raised against the applicant and therefore could not give rise, objectively speaking, to doubt about the judge’s impartiality.  Before the Commission the applicant complained, inter alia , under Article 6 para. 1 of the Convention that he did not have a fair trial by an impartial tribunal.

PART II

SOLUTION REACHED

10 . Following the decision on the admissibility of the application, the Commission placed itself at the disposal of the parties with a view to securing a friendly settlement in accordance with former Article 28 § 1 (b) of the Convention and invited the parties to submit any proposals they wished to make.

11 . In accordance with the usual practice, the Secretary, acting on the Commission's instructions, contacted the parties to explore the possibilities of reaching a friendly settlement.

12 . By letter of 26 March 1999 and 8 April 1999 the parties submitted the following agreement reached between them :

             "Statements of the parties with a view to a friendly settlement

             With reference to former Article 28 para. 1 (b) of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, the parties in the proceedings concerning Application No. 28440/95, lodged by Mr Zuhdija Husic, declare with a view to a friendly settlement, reached with the assistance of the European Commission of Human Rights, as follows:

1.              The Government of the Republic of Austria will pay to the applicant a sum of altogether ATS 65,110 as compensation in respect of any possible claims relating to the present application.  This sum includes ATS 25,110 in respect of counsel's fees and expenses incurred in the proceedings before the Commission.

             This amount will be paid to the applicant's representative Mr Markus Orgler in Innsbruck.

2.              The applicant declares his application settled.

3.              The applicant waives any further claims against the Republic of Austria relating to the facts underlying the present application."

             "Erklärungen der Parteien zur gütlichen Regelung

             In der Beschwerdesache Nr. 28440/95 des Herrn Zuhdija Husic einigen sich die Parteien unter Bezugnahme auf den früheren Artikel 28 Abs. 1 lit. b der Europäischen Konvention zum Schutze der Menschenrechte und Grundfreiheiten und unter Mitwirkung der Europäischen Kommission für Menschenrechte auf die nachstehende gütliche Regelung:

1.              Die österreichische Regierung zahlt dem Beschwerdeführer als Ausgleich für sämtliche etwaige Ansprüche im Zusammenhang mit der vorliegenden Beschwerde einen Gesamtbetrag von öS 65 110.  Dieser Betrag umfaßt öS 25 110 hinsichtlich der Gebühren und Auslagen, die im Rahmen des Verfahrens vor der Kommission entstanden sind.

             Dieser Betrag wird an den Verfahrensbevollmächtigten des Beschwerdeführers Herrn Rechtsanwalt Dr. Markus Orgler in Innsbruck überwiesen.

2.              Der Beschwerdeführer erklärt seine oben genannte Beschwerde als erledigt.

3.              Der Beschwerdeführer verzichtet auf die Geltendmachung allfälliger weiterer Forderungen gegen die Republik Österreich im Zusammenhang mit dem der Beschwerde zugrundeliegenden Sachverhalt."

13 . At its session on 3 June 1999, the Commission noted that the parties had reached an agreement regarding the terms of a settlement. It further considered, having regard to former Article 28 para. 1 (b) of the Convention, that the friendly settlement of the case had been secured on the basis of respect for Human Rights as defined in the Convention.

14 . For these reasons, the Commission adopted the present Report.

M.-T. SCHOEPFER S. TRECHSEL

Secretary President

to the Commission of the Commission

[1] The term “former” refers to the text of the Convention before the entry into force of Protocol No. 11 on 1 November 1998.