G. v. AUSTRIA



                  EUROPEAN COMMISSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

                               PLENARY

                       Application No. 12976/87

                                  G.

                                against

                                AUSTRIA

                       REPORT OF THE COMMISSION

                       (adopted on 19 May 1992)

                           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 G. against Austria on

5 December 1986.  It was registered on 20 May 1987 under file

No. 12976/87.

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

practising in Vienna.

      The Government of Austria were represented by their Agent,

Ambassador H. Türk, Head of the International Law Department at the

Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

2.    On 9 October 1991 the Commission declared the applicant's

complaints about the control of his correspondence with his defence

counsel and resulting restrictions on his defence (Articles 6 and 8 of

the Convention) and the absence of an effective remedy in this respect

(Article 13 of the Convention), as well as his complaint about the

opening of a letter from the Commission (Article 8 of the Convention)

admissible.  The remainder of his application was declared

inadmissible.

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 found that the parties had reached a friendly

settlement of the case and on 19 May 1992 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.   S. TRECHSEL, Acting President

                 F. ERMACORA

                 E. BUSUTTIL

                 A.S. GÖZÜBÜYÜK

                 A. WEITZEL

                 H. DANELIUS

                 J.-C. SOYER

                 H.G. SCHERMERS

           Mrs.  G.H. THUNE

           Sir   Basil HALL

           MM.   F. MARTINEZ

                 C.L. ROZAKIS

           Mrs.  J. LIDDY

           MM.   L. LOUCAIDES

                 J.-C. GEUS

                 M.P. PELLONPÄÄ

                 B. MARXER

                                PART I

                        STATEMENT OF THE FACTS

5.    In 1986 the applicant was taken into detention on remand in the

course of criminal proceedings instituted against him on charges of

grave theft.  On 27 November 1986 the Salzburg Regional Court convicted

the applicant of theft on two counts and attempted theft on one count

and sentenced him to three years' imprisonment.  His plea of nullity

remained unsuccessful.  Upon his appeal, his sentence was reduced to

two years and nine months' imprisonment.

5.    Before the Commission the applicant raised various complaints

under Articles 5, 6, 8, 13 and 25 of the Convention about matters

related to the criminal proceedings against him.

                                PART II

                           SOLUTION REACHED

6.    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

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

submit any proposals they wished to make.

7.    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.

8.    By letter of 6 March 1992 the applicant's representative, and by

letter of 7 May 1992 the Agent of the Government submitted the

following identical declarations on the agreement reached between the

applicant and the Government in May 1992:

      "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. 12976/87,

lodged by Mr. , declare with a view to a friendly settlement,

reached with 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 41,000 as compensation

      in respect of any possible claims relating to the present

      application.  This sum includes AS 6,000 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. R. Proksch in Vienna.

      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. 12976/87 des Herrn

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 41.000.  Dieser Betrag umfaßt AS 6.000 hinsichtlich der

      Gebühren und Auslagen, die im Rahmen des Verfahrens vor der

      Kommission entstanden sind.

      Dieser Betrag wird an den Verfahrensbevollmächtigten des

      Beschwerdeführers Herrn R. Proksch in Wien 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."

9.    At its session on 19 May 1992, 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.

10.   For these reasons, the Commission adopted this Report.

Secretary to the Commission          Acting President of the Commission

       (H.C. KRÜGER)                           (S. TRECHSEL)

 

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