Application No. 13402/87
by Ömer KARABULUT
against the Federal Republic of Germany
The European Commission of Human Rights sitting in private
on 11 October 1989, the following members being present:
MM. C.A. NØRGAARD, President
J.A. FROWEIN
S. TRECHSEL
F. ERMACORA
G. SPERDUTI
E. BUSUTTIL
G. JÖRUNDSSON
A.S. GÖZÜBÜYÜK
A. WEITZEL
J.-C. SOYER
H.G. SCHERMERS
H. DANELIUS
G. BATLINER
J. CAMPINOS
H. VANDENBERGHE
Mrs. G.H. THUNE
Sir Basil HALL
MM. C.L. ROZAKIS
L. LOUCAIDES
Mr. H.C. KRÜGER, Secretary to the Commission
Having regard to Article 25 of the Convention for the
Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms;
Having regard to the application introduced on 13 October 1987
by O.K. against the Federal Republic of Germany and registered
on 25 November 1987 under file No. 13402/87;
Having regard to the Commission's decision of 14 March 1989 to
give notice of the application to the respondent Government and to
invite them to present before 2 June 1989 their observations in
writing on the admissibility and merits of the application;
Having regard to the Government's letter, enclosing a copy of
their letter to the applicant's representative with a draft agreement,
of 29 May 1989;
Having regard to the Government's letter of 20 June 1989
enclosing the agreement reached between the parties;
Having regard to the report provided for in Rule 40 of the
Rules of Procedure of the Commission;
Having deliberated;
Decides as follows:
THE FACTS
The applicant is a Turkish citizen born in 1944 and living at
Heilbronn. He is represented by Rechtsanwalt N. Wingerter, a lawyer
practising at Heilbronn.
The facts submitted may be summarised as follows.
On 17 February 1986, at Heilbronn, the applicant, driving
a private motor car, failed to obey a traffic-light.
By a regulatory fine order (Bussgeldbescheid) of 19 February
1986 the city of Heilbronn imposed on the applicant a regulatory fine
(Geldbusse) for infringing Articles 37 para. 2 and 49 para. 3 no. 2 of
the Road Traffic Regulations (Strassenverkehrsordnung).
On the applicant's objection (Einspruch) the District Court
(Amtsgericht) of Heilbronn fixed 26 June 1986 as date of the trial.
An interpreter was appointed for this hearing.
At the hearing the applicant withdrew the objection. The
Court then ruled that he had to bear the costs of the proceedings.
On 10 July 1986 the Court fixed the costs to be paid by
the applicant at 196.30 DM, of which 120.50 DM represented the
interpreter's fee.
On 20 July 1987 the applicant entered an objection (Erinnerung)
against the bill of costs to the extent that it included the
interpreter's fee. He alleged a violation of Article 6 para. 3 (e) of
the Convention and relied on the Öztürk judgment of 21 February 1984
(Eur. Court H.R., Series A no. 73).
On 2 September 1987 the District Court dismissed the objection
as unfounded under No. 1904 of the Schedule to the Court Costs Act
(Kostenverzeichnis zum Gerichtskostengesetz).
The applicant's appeal (Beschwerde) was dismissed by the
Regional Court (Landgericht) of Heilbronn on 2 October 1987. The
Regional Court noted that the Schedule, as amended in 1980, was lex
posterior in relation to the Federal Act of 7 August 1952 (BGBl II
p. 685), by which the Convention had been incorporated into domestic
law, and it referred to the principle "lex posterior derogat legi
priori".
PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COMMISSION
The application was introduced on 13 October and registered on
25 November 1987.
On 14 March 1989 the Commission decided to bring the
application to the notice of the respondent Government and to invite
them to present before 2 June 1989 their observations in writing on
the admissibility and merits of the application.
By a letter of 29 May 1989 the Government informed the
Commission of the terms of a draft agreement which they had sent to
Rechtsanwalt Wingerter.
Under cover of their letter of 20 June 1989 the Government
submitted the agreement reached between the parties.
The agreement reads as follows:
&_(German original)&S
"VEREINBARUNG
über das Individualbeschwerdeverfahren Nr. 13402/87
O.K. gegen die Bundesrepublik Deutschland
zwischen
Herrn O.K., Heuchelbergstrasse 72, 7100 Heilbronn-Böckingen,
vertreten durch Rechtsanwälte Norbert Wingerter, Volker Hohbach, Anke
Stiefel-Bechdolf, Christoph Haussmann in Heilbronn
und
der Bundesrepublik Deutschland vertreten durch Ministerialdirigent
Dr. Meyer-Ladewig, Bundesministerium der Justiz, 5300 Bonn 2
1. Dem Beschwerdeführer werden die in dem Bussgeldverfahren vor dem
Amtsgericht Heilbronn - 31 OWi 3183/86 - entstandenen und von ihm
gezahlten Dolmetscherkosten von 120,50 DM zurückerstattet.
2. Die Bundesregierung zahlt dem Beschwerdeführer zur Abgeltung der
ihm im Erinnerungs- und Beschwerdeverfahren gegen diesen Kostenansatz
und anlässlich der Einlegung der Individualbeschwerde bei der Euro-
päischen Menschenrechtskommission entstandenen Kosten und Auslagen
einen Betrag von insgesamt 600,- DM (sechshundert Deutsche Mark).
3. Die Beträge zu 1. und 2. werden an die Verfahrensbevollmächtigten
des Beschwerdeführers, Rechtsanwälte Norbert Wingerter, Volker Hohbach
u.a. überwiesen, die sich verpflichten, die Bundesregierung hinsicht-
lich der Zahlung gegenüber dem Beschwerdeführer freizustellen.
4. Der Beschwerdeführer erklärt die Beschwerde hiermit für erledigt
und ist mit der Streichung aus dem Register durch die Europäische
Kommission für Menschenrechte einverstanden.
Bonn, den 29. Mai 1989 Heilbronn, den 1.6.1989
gez. Meyer-Ladewig gez. Wingerter
(Ministerialdirigent (Rechtsanwalt Wingerter)"
Dr. Meyer-Ladewig)
&S(English translation)&_
"AGREEMENT
concerning the proceedings relating to individual Application No. 13402/87
O.K. against the Federal Republic of Germany
between
Mr. O.K., Heuchelbergstrasse 72, 7100 Heilbronn-Böckingen,
represented by MM. Norbert Wingerter, Volker Hohbach, Mrs. Anke
Stiefel-Bechdolf and Mr. Christoph Haussmann, lawyers in Heilbronn,
and
the Federal Republic of Germany, represented by Dr. Meyer-Ladewig,
Ministerialdirigent, Federal Ministry of Justice, 5300 Bonn 2
1. Interpretation costs of 120.50 DM incurred in regulatory
proceedings (Ref. 31 OWi 3183/86) before the Heilbronn District
Court and paid by the applicant shall be reimbursed.
2. In satisfaction of the costs and expenses incurred by the applicant
in the objection and appeal proceedings to the above-mentioned bill
of costs and in the submission of the application to the European
Commission of Human Rights, the Federal Government shall pay to the
applicant the sum of 600 DM (six hundred Deutschmark).
3. The sums referred to in paragraphs 1. and 2. above shall be paid
to the applicant's representatives in the proceedings, MM. Norbert
Wingerter, Volker Hohbach and others, who undertake to indemnify the
Federal Government against the applicant in respect of the payment.
4. The applicant declares that the application is settled and that he
agrees to it being struck out of the list of cases of the European
Commission of Human Rights.
Bonn, 29 May 1989 Heilbronn, 1.6.1989
(signed) Meyer-Ladewig (signed) Wingerter
(Ministerialdirigent (Rechtsanwalt Wingerter)"
Dr. Meyer-Ladewig)
The Government state that they have arranged for the above
sums to be paid. They request that the application be struck out of
the Commission's list of cases.
REASONS FOR THE DECISION
Rule 44 para. 1 of the Rules of Procedure provides:
"1. Unless it considers that any reason of a general
character affecting the observance of the Convention
justifies further examination of an application, the
Commission may strike it out of its list of cases:
a. where the applicant states that he wishes to
withdraw his application; or
b. where the circumstances ... lead to the conclusion
that he does not intend to pursue his application."
The Commission notes that the parties have reached an
agreement on the applicant's claims. The Government request that the
application be struck off the list. The applicant states that his
application is settled and he agrees to the Government's request.
The Commission finds no reason of a general character
affecting the observance of the Convention which, following the above
agreement between the parties, necessitates a further examination of
the present application. It notes that, in view of the Öztürk
judgment, the Federal Republic of Germany has, by Article 2 para. 1 of
an Act of 15 June 1989 (Gesetz zur Regelung des Geschäftswertes bei
land- und forstwirtschaftlichen Betriebsübergaben und zur Änderung
sonstiger kostenrechtlicher Vorschriften, BGBl I p. 1083), amended
Nr. 1904 of the Schedule to the Court Costs Act. Under the amended
provision interpretation costs incurred in regulatory proceedings will
only be claimed from the accused if the court finds that he caused
them unnecessarily.
For these reasons, the Commission
DECIDES TO STRIKE THE APPLICATION OFF ITS LIST OF CASES.
Secretary to the Commission President of the Commission
(H.C. KRÜGER) (C.A. NØRGAARD)
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