Lexploria

EUROPEAN COMMISSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

FIRST CHAMBER

Application No. 20523/92

by Laszlo Muszka

against

Austria

REPORT OF THE COMMISSION

(adopted on 18 October 1994)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

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

PART I : STATEMENT OF THE FACTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

PART II : SOLUTION REACHED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

INTRODUCTION

1. This Report relates to the application introduced under

Article 25 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human

Rights and Fundamental Freedoms by Laszlo Muszka against Austria on

26 May 1992. It was registered on 24 August 1992 under file

No. 20523/92.

The applicant was represented by Mr. R. Soyer, a lawyer

practising in Vienna. The Government of Austria were represented by

their Agent, Ambassador F. Cede, Head of the International Law

Department at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

2. The application relates to the length of criminal proceedings

against the applicant. On 7 April 1994 the Commission (First Chamber)

declared the application admissible.

3. The Commission then proceeded to carry out its task under

Article 28 para. 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."

4. The Commission (First Chamber) found that the parties had reached

a friendly settlement of the case and on 18 October 1994 it adopted

this Report, which, in accordance with Article 28 para. 2 of the

Convention, is confined to a brief statement of the facts and of the

solution reached.

The following members were present when the Report was adopted :

MM. A. WEITZEL, President

C.L. ROZAKIS

F. ERMACORA

E. BUSUTTIL

Mrs. J. LIDDY

MM. M.P. PELLONPÄÄ

B. MARXER

G.B. REFFI

B. CONFORTI

N. BRATZA

I. BÉKÉS

E. KONSTANTINOV

G. RESS

PART I

STATEMENT OF THE FACTS

5. The applicant, born in 1946, is an Austrian national and resident

in Vienna.

6. In January 1987 preliminary investigations were opened against

the applicant on the suspicion of having committed fraud in making

false insurance claims.

7. On 12 May 1992 the Vienna Regional Court (Landesgericht)

convicted the applicant of having acted as an accessory to fraud on

six counts. He was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment on

probation. He was further ordered to pay to the insurance company

concerned, which had participated in the proceedings as a private

party, AS 464.000 as compensation.

8. On 25 November 1992 the Vienna Court of Appeal (Oberlandes-

gericht) dismissed the applicant's appeal (Berufung) regarding his

conviction and the sentence imposed. However, the Regional Court's

decision on the compensation claims was quashed. On 22 January 1993

the written version of the judgment was served upon the applicant.

PART II

SOLUTION REACHED

9. Following the decision on the admissibility of the application,

the Commission (First Chamber) placed itself at the disposal of the

parties with a view to securing a friendly settlement in accordance

with Article 28 para. 1 (b) of the Convention and invited the parties

to submit any proposals they wished to make.

10. In accordance with the usual practice, the Chamber Secretary,

acting on the Commission's instructions, contacted the parties to

explore the possibilities of reaching a friendly settlement.

11. By letters of 26 September 1994 and 3 October 1994, respectively,

the applicant and the respondent Government informed the Commission

that they had agreed on the terms of a friendly settlement, and

submitted the following declaration.

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

With reference to 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. 20523/92,

lodged by Laszlo Muszka, 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 amounting to altogether AS 45,000 as compensation

in respect of any possible claims relating to the present

application. This sum includes AS 15,000 in respect of the

counsel's fees and expenses incurred in the proceedings before

the Commission.

This amount will be paid to the applicant's counsel,

Mr. R. Soyer in Vienna (Account No. 0955-40555/00, Creditanstalt-

Bankverein).

2. The applicant declares his application settled.

3. The applicant waives any further claims against the

Republic of Austria relating to the present application."

"Erklärungen der Parteien zur gütlichen Regelung

In der Individualbeschwerde Nr. 20523/92 des Herrn Laszlo Muszka

verständigen sich die Parteien unter Bezugnahme auf Artikel 28 Abs. 1 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 etwaigen Ansprüche im Zusammenhang

mit der vorliegenden Individualbeschwerde einen Gesamtbetrag von

AS 45,000. Dieser Betrag umfaßt AS 15,000 hinsichtlich der

Gebühren und Auslagen, die im Rahmen des Verfahrens vor der

Kommission entstanden sind.

Dieser Betrag wird an den Verfahrensbevollmächtigten des

Beschwerdeführers Dr. R. Soyer in Wien (Konto Nr. 0955-40555/00,

Creditanstalt-Bankverein) 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."

12. At its session on 18 October 1994, the Commission noted that the

parties had reached an agreement regarding the terms of a settlement.

It further considered, having regard to 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.

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

Secretary to the First Chamber President of the First Chamber

(M.F. BUQUICCHIO) (A. WEITZEL)

Menu

MUSZKA v. Austria

MUSZKA v. Austria

LEXI