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)
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