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R.K.E. v. AUSTRIA

Doc ref: 16941/90 • ECHR ID: 001-45649

Document date: April 13, 1994

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R.K.E. v. AUSTRIA

Doc ref: 16941/90 • ECHR ID: 001-45649

Document date: April 13, 1994

Cited paragraphs only

EUROPEAN COMMISSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

FIRST CHAMBER

Application No. 16941/90

R. K. E.

against

Austria

REPORT OF THE COMMISSION

(adopted on 13 April 1994)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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

Article 25 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human

Rights and Fundamental Freedoms by R. K. E. against Austria on

19 June 1990. It was registered on 27 July 1990 under file

No. 16941/90.

The applicant was represented by Mr. Christian Slana, a lawyer

practising in Linz.

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 proceedings before the

Chamber of the Linz Customs Authority (Spruchsenat des Zollamtes). On

31 March 1993 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 13 April 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

A.S. GÖZÜBÜYÜK

Mrs. J. LIDDY

MM. M.P. PELLONPÄÄ

B. MARXER

B. CONFORTI

N. BRATZA

I. BÉKÉS

E. KONSTANTINOV

PART I

STATEMENT OF THE FACTS

5. The applicant is an Austrian citizen, born in 1956 and resident

at Klam, Austria.

6. The applicant was questioned on 10 November 1984 in connection

with failure to present 39 parcels of watches for customs clearance and

the offence of breaking customs seals. On 30 May 1986 a penal notice

(Strafverfügung) was issued by the Linz Customs Authority (Zollamt)

accusing the applicant of various customs offences under the Code of

Financial Offences (Finanzstrafgesetz). A fine of AS 25,000 was

imposed with 50 days' detention in default. The applicant filed an

objection to the penal notice and "full" proceedings were opened before

a Chamber (Spruchsenat) of the Customs Authority. The proceedings

ended on 22 May 1991 with a decision of the Chamber to convict the

applicant in respect of non-compliance with tax regulations and

attempted smuggling. He was fined AS 20,000 with a compensation order

of AS 10,000 and costs. The charges of breaking customs seals were

dismissed for lack of evidence. The applicant did not appeal.

PART II

SOLUTION REACHED

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. By letter of 3 March 1994 the Government submitted the following

declaration made by both parties on the terms of the settlement.

[Translation]

"Declaration of the parties to the friendly settlement

The parties to the present application pending before the

European Commission of Human Rights agree the following friendly

settlement:

1. The Republic of Austria will pay to the applicant the sum of

AS 50,000 (including the sum of AS 27,198 by way of costs) as

compensation in respect of any possible claims relating to the

present application.

2. The applicant declares the present application to be settled.

3. The applicant waives any further claims against the Republic

of Austria relating to the present application.

4. On payment of the compensation monies, the applicant will

forthwith and without demand provide the Republic of Austria with

written confirmation of receipt."

[German]

"Erklärung der Parteien zur gütlichen Regelung

In dem gegenständlichen, vor der Europäischen Kommission für

Menschenrechte anhängigen Verfahren verständigen sich die Parteien auf

die nachstehende gütliche Regelung:

1. Die Republik Österreich bezahlt dem Beschwerdeführer als

Ausgleich für sämtliche etwaigen Ansprüche im Zusammenhang mit

der gegenständlichen Beschwerde einen Betrag von öS 50.000,--

(darin enthalten ein Betrag von öS 27.198,-- an Prozeßkosten).

2. Der Beschwerdeführer erklärt seine oben genannte Beschwerde

für erledigt.

3. Der Beschwerdeführer verzichtet auf die Geltendmachung

allfälliger weiterer im Zusammenhang mit der gegenständlichen

Beschwerdesache stehender Forderungen gegen die Republik

Österreich.

4. Der Beschwerdeführer wird der Republik Österreich

unmittelbar nach Auszahlung der Entschädigungssumme

unaufgefordert eine Bestätigung über deren Erhalt ausstellen."

10. At its session on 13 April 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.

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

Secretary to the First Chamber President of the First Chamber

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

LEXI

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