Final Resolution ResDH(2004)83
concerning the unfairness proceedings for compensation, following acquittal, for detention on remand (Applications No. 32397/96, Sinnesael v. Greece, and No. 34373/97, Goutsos v. Greece)
(Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 22 December 2004
at the 906th meeting of the Ministers' Deputies)[1]
The Committee of Ministers, under the terms of former Article 32 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (hereinafter referred to as “the Convention”),
Having regard to Interim Resolutions DH(99)130 and DH(99)558 adopted on 19 February 1999 and on 8 October 1999 respectively in the cases of Sinnesael and Goutsos, in which the Committee of Ministers decided that there had been a violation of Article 6, paragraph 1, of the Convention on account of the unfairness of proceedings before the Courts of Appeal of Thrace and of Crete, respectively, which had delivered proprio motu, without hearing the applicants (both persons acquitted in criminal proceedings), and without providing adequate reasons, final decisions refusing them any right to compensation for the period they spent in detention on remand; and also decided to make public the report of the European Commission of Human Rights;
Whereas the Committee of Ministers examined the proposals made by the Commission when transmitting its report as regards just satisfaction to be awarded to the applicants, proposals supplemented by letters of the President of the Commission dated 16 December 1998 and 27 September 1999;
Whereas at the 666th and the 688th meetings of the Ministers' Deputies, the Committee of Ministers, agreeing with the Commission's proposals, held by decisions adopted on 15 April and 3 December 1999, in accordance with former Article 32, paragraph 2, of the Convention, that the Greek government was to pay the applicants, within three months, the following amounts as just satisfaction:
- to Mr Andy Sinnesael: 3 000 000 drachmas in respect of non-pecuniary damage and
803 088 drachmas in respect of costs and expenses, namely a total sum of 3 803 088 drachmas;
- to Mr Christos Goutsos: 1 000 000 drachmas in respect of non-pecuniary damage and 500 000 drachmas in respect of costs and expenses, namely a total sum of 1 500 000 drachmas;
and that interest should be payable on any unpaid sum, calculated on the basis of each full elapsed month of delay at the statutory rate applicable on the date of these decisions, it being understood that the interest would accrue from the expiry of the time-limit until full payment was placed at the disposal of the applicants;
Whereas the Committee of Ministers invited the Greek government to inform it of the measures taken following its aforementioned decisions in the present cases, having regard to Greece's obligation under former Article 32, paragraph 4, of the Convention to abide by them;
Whereas during the examination of the case by the Committee of Ministers, the Greek government accordingly informed the Committee that the individual and general measures taken in consequence of the Committee's decisions in order to erase the consequences for the applicants of the violations found as well as to prevent new violations of the same kind in the future, were similar to those adopted in the cases of Tsirlis and Kouloumpas, and of Georgiadis (see appendix to Final Resolution ResDH(2004)82);
Whereas the Committee of Ministers satisfied itself that the sums awarded as just satisfaction had been paid by the Greek government to the first applicant on 26 June 1999, i. e. within the time-limit set, and to the second applicant on 30 June 2000, i. e. 3 months and 27 days after the time-limit set, but that the latter applicant has waived his right to default interest;
Declares, after having examined the measures taken by the Government of Greece, that it has exercised its functions under former Article 32 of the Convention in these cases.
[1] Rectified on 6 April 2005 (see title and paragraph 3 of the Final Resolution).
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