CEDHCASELAW;JUDGMENTS;CHAMBER;ENG9Satisfaction
CEDH · CASELAW;JUDGMENTS;CHAMBER;ENG — 27 novembre 1991
- ECLI
- ECLI:CE:ECHR:1991:1127JUD001232586
- Date
- 27 novembre 1991
- Publication
- 27 novembre 1991
droits fondamentauxCEDH
Source : DILA / Judilibre · open data
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Solution
source officielleViolation of Art. 5-3;Violation of Art. 6-1;Just satisfaction reserved
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.sDD6737AE { font-size:11pt } .s211D6B00 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:normal; widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:8.5pt } .sBB9EE52A { font-family:Arial }      In the case of Kemmache v. France*,   The European Court of Human Rights, sitting, in accordance with Article 43 (art. 43) of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms ("the Convention")** and the relevant provisions of the Rules of Court***, as a Chamber composed of the following judges:           Mr   R. Ryssdal, President,         Mr   F. Gölcüklü,         Mr   L.-E. Pettiti,         Mr   C. Russo,         Mr   R. Bernhardt,         Mr   S.K. Martens,         Mrs E. Palm,         Mr   I. Foighel,         Mr   R. Pekkanen,   and also of Mr M.-A. Eissen, Registrar, and Mr H. Petzold, Deputy Registrar,   Having deliberated in private on 21 March and 22 October 1991,   Delivers the following judgment, which was adopted on the last-mentioned date:   _______________ Notes by the Registrar   * The case is numbered 41/1990/232/298 and 53/1990/244/315.   The first number in each of these two sets of numbers is the position on the list of cases referred to the Court in the relevant year (second number).   The last two numbers in each set indicate the position on the list of cases referred to the Court since its creation and on the list of the corresponding originating applications to the Commission.   ** As amended by Article 11 of Protocol No. 8 (P8-11), which came into force on 1 January 1990.   *** The amendments to the Rules of Court which came into force on 1 April 1989 are applicable to this case. _______________   PROCEDURE   1.       The case was referred to the Court by the European Commission of Human Rights ("the Commission") in two stages, first on 11 July and then on 12 October 1990, on each occasion within the three-month period laid down by Article 32 para. 1 and Article 47 (art. 32-1, art. 47) of the Convention.   It originated in two applications (nos. 12325/86 and 14992/89) against the French Republic lodged with the Commission under Article 25 (art. 25) by a French national, Mr Michel Kemmache, on 1 August 1986 and 28 April 1989; the Commission did not order the joinder of the two applications.   2.       The Commission's requests referred to Articles 44 and 48 (art. 44, art. 48) and to the declaration whereby France recognised the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court (Article 46) (art. 46). The object of the requests was to obtain a decision as to whether the facts of the case disclosed a breach by the respondent State of its obligations under respectively Article 5 para. 3 and Article 6 para. 1 (art. 5-3, art. 6-1) of the Convention, specifically as regards the requirement of "reasonable time".   3.       In response to the enquiry made in accordance with Rule 33 para. 3 (d) of the Rules of Court, the applicant stated that he wished to take part in the proceedings and designated the lawyer who would represent him (Rule 30).   4.       The Chamber to be constituted for the examination of the first of the above-mentioned cases included ex officio Mr L.-E. Pettiti, the elected judge of French nationality (Article 43 of the Convention) (art. 43), and Mr R. Ryssdal, the President of the Court (Rule 21 para. 3 (b)).   On 27 August 1990, in the presence of the Registrar, the President drew by lot the names of the other seven members, namely Mr F. Gölcüklü, Mr C. Russo, Mr R. Bernhardt, Mr S.K. Martens, Mrs E. Palm, Mr I. Foighel and Mr R. Pekkanen (Article 43 in fine of the Convention and Rule 21 para. 4) (art. 43).   5.       On 15 October 1990 Mr Ryssdal decided that this Chamber should also hear the second case and that it should examine both cases simultaneously (Rules 21 para. 6 and 37 para. 3). On 25 October the Chamber ordered the joinder of the two cases (Rule 37 para. 3 in fine).   6.       Mr Ryssdal assumed the office of President of the Chamber (Rule 21 para. 5) and, through the Registrar, consulted the Agent of the French Government ("the Government"), the Delegate of the Commission and the applicant's representative on the need for a written procedure (Rule 37 para. 1).   In accordance with the order made in consequence, the Registrar received the memorials of the applicant and the Government on 21 and 23 January 1991 respectively.   On 11 February the applicant lodged a memorial in reply which, with the President's leave, was added to the documents before the Court (Rule 37 para. 1, second sub-paragraph).   The Government replied thereto on 14 March.   In a letter of 28 February the Secretary to the Commission informed the Registrar that the Delegate would make his observations at the hearing.   7.       Having consulted, through the Registrar, those who would be appearing before the Court, the President had directed on 6 November 1990 that the oral proceedings should open on 19 March 1991 (Rule 38).   8.       The hearing took place in public in the Human Rights Building, Strasbourg, on the appointed day.   The Court had held a preparatory meeting beforehand.   There appeared before the Court:   (a) for the Government       Mrs   E. Belliard, Deputy Director of Legal              Agent,          Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs,     Miss M. Picard, magistrat, seconded to the          Legal Affairs Directorate, Ministry of          Foreign Affairs,     Miss F. Travaillot, magistrat, seconded to          the Criminal Affairs and Pardons Directorate,          Ministry of Justice,     Mr    P. Chambu, Human Rights Division,          Ministry of Foreign Affairs,                       Counsel;   (b) for the Commission       Mr    J.-C. Soyer,                                      Delegate;   (c) for the applicant       Mrs   C. Méral, avocate,                                 Counsel.   The Court heard addresses by Mrs Belliard for the Government, by Mr Soyer for the Commission and by Mrs Méral for the applicant, as well as their replies to its questions.   The representatives of the Government and the applicant produced various documents on the occasion of the hearing and subsequently.   AS TO THE FACTS   9.       Mr Michel Kemmache, a French national, is currently serving an eleven year prison sentence.   Previously he resided at Pantin where he was employed as a receptionist of a hotel company.   He had at one time been the managing director of that company and, before that, the director of several companies in which he owned shares: these consisted of gambling clubs, hotels and restaurants.   His criminal record showed three convictions, including a term of five years' imprisonment for aggravated theft.   I.    The particular circumstances of the case   A. The proceedings   1. The investigation proceedings   (a)   Investigation concerning the charges of importing counterfeit money into French territory and the use and unlawful circulation of counterfeit banknotes   10.      On 6 July 1981 Mr Klaushofer, an Austrian national residing in Liechtenstein, and Mr Ceccio, an Italian living in Switzerland, were apprehended at Nice Airport as they were attempting to change a counterfeit one hundred US dollar banknote at one of the airport's banks.   The two men were travelling in a car stolen in the Netherlands bearing a false Portuguese registration number. Their luggage was found to contain 4,500 counterfeit 100 US dollar banknotes and slips for wads of double that amount; on 8 July 1981 the two men were charged with importing counterfeit money into French territory and the use and unlawful circulation of counterfeit banknotes; they were remanded in custody.   Inquiries led the investigators to the applicant and to a Spanish national, Mr Hernandez, whom Mr Klaushofer and Mr Ceccio had allegedly met in Monaco through the intermediary of an Italian, Mr Caudullo, known for his criminal activities.   Mr Kemmache was accordingly charged on 16 February 1983 with the same offences as the first two accused and in his turn remanded in custody (see paragraph 25 below).   11.      On 24 February 1984 Mr Ceccio told the investigating judge that he had, on the instructions of his lawyer and in exchange for a sum of money paid by the applicant, untruthfully stated that he did not know the latter.   The judge concerned summoned Mr Kemmache - who had in the meantime been released subject to court supervision (see paragraph 25 below) - in order to examine him on 13 March 1984, an interview which was postponed to 20 March 1984.   The applicant failed to appear on that date.   One of his lawyers made a declaration to the investigating judge to the effect that he had received a telephone call from a person whose identity he could not reveal informing him that a motorway accident had prevented Mr Kemmache from appearing.   However, a witness who was interviewed on 23 March, Mr Fernandez, stated that he and the applicant had arrived in Nice by road, without encountering any difficulties, in the evening of 19 March and that his travelling companion had indeed been in Nice the following day, until about 5 pm.   Whatever the truth of the matter, Mr Kemmache was again remanded in custody on 22 March (see paragraph 26 below).   12.      On 29 June 1984 the investigating judge made an order closing the investigation of the main offence and forwarded the file to the prosecuting authorities.   (b) Investigation concerning the charges of suborning a witness and conspiracy to suborn a witness   13.      As a result of Mr Ceccio's statements (see paragraph 11 above), a second judicial investigation of Mr Kemmache and two other persons was opened on 18 June 1984, on charges of suborning a witness and conspiracy to suborn a witness.   On 20 February 1986 the investigating judge, after having questioned the applicant, charged him with conspiracy to suborn a witness.   On 2 October 1986 he made an order concluding the investigation and sending the papers to the prosecuting authorities.   2. The trial proceedings   (a) The proceedings concerning the main offence (l'affaire criminelle)   14.      On 28 August 1984 the indictments division (chambre d'accusation) of the Aix-en-Provence Court of Appeal ordered Mr Kemmache's indictment on charges of importing counterfeit money into French territory and of use and unlawful circulation of counterfeit banknotes and committed him for trial before the Alpes-Maritimes Assize Court.   The applicant appealed on points of law and the Court of Cassation set aside this decision on 20 November 1984 on the ground that the indictments division had disregarded Articles 83 and 84 of the Code of Criminal Procedure by failing to find that the investigating judge who had replaced the first investigating judge, the latter having changed posts, had not been formally appointed.   15.      The case was remitted to the indictments division of the Grenoble Court of Appeal which, on 7 January 1985, committed the applicant for trial in the Alpes-Maritimes Assize Court.   The applicant appealed on points of law and the Court of Cassation set aside this decision on 26 March 1985 for failure to give sufficient reasons.   16.      The case was again remitted to the indictments division of the Grenoble Court of Appeal which, sitting with a different panel of judges, on 15 May 1985 committed Mr Kemmache for trial in the Alpes-Maritimes Assize Court.   However, on the applicant's appeal, the Court of Cassation set aside the decision on 17 July 1985 on the ground that the indictments division had infringed Article 202 of the Code of Criminal Procedure by relying on facts not included in the investigating judge's referral order, without having called for additional investigative measures or having had the applicant charged.   17.      The case was remitted to the indictments division of the Lyon Court of Appeal, which on 13 August 1985 committed Mr Kemmache for trial before the Alpes-Maritimes Assize Court, charged with the offence (crime) of knowingly aiding and abetting the importation and use on French territory of counterfeit foreign banknotes and the related offence (délit) of unlawful circulation of such counterfeit banknotes within the customs area.   On 29 October 1985 the Court of Cassation dismissed the applicant's appeal against the Court of Appeal's decision.   18.      The case was set down for trial in the Alpes-Maritimes Assize Court in the first quarter of 1986, but by an order of 11 March 1986 the Assize Court President postponed the trial to a subsequent session as the applicant had been charged with the offence (délit) of conspiracy to suborn a witness (see paragraph 13 above) and the two sets of proceedings were related.   19.      On 19 November 1986 the French authorities temporarily handed Mr Klaushofer and Mr Ceccio over to the Swiss authorities, pursuant to section 8 of the Extradition of Aliens Act of 10 March 1927 (see paragraph 38 below), in connection with a murder investigation in that country in which they were implicated. Mr Klaushofer was brought back to France on 26 February 1990, having been sentenced in Switzerland to twenty years' imprisonment; Mr Ceccio had been returned on 25 January 1988 following a finding that there was no case for him to answer.   20.      On 12 June 1990 the Alpes-Maritimes Assize Court separated the proceedings concerning the applicant and Mr Klaushofer from those directed against Mr Ceccio, and postponed the former to a subsequent session.   It did so following an application to that effect from Mr Klaushofer's counsel, which was supported by the applicant's lawyers, as is clear from the following extract from that decision:          "...          Mrs Boncompagni, counsel for the accused Stephan Klaushofer,      requests the adjournment of the case, principally on the      ground that, as she was appointed by the court on 8 June 1990,      she has not had sufficient time to study fully the file;      moreover, the accused has designated another lawyer,      Mr Vergès, to conduct his defence;          Mr Peyrat and Mrs Méral, counsel for the accused Michel      Kemmache, associate themselves with this application,      referring to the 'indivisibility of the accused's cases';          ..."   21.      When notified that the hearing would be held on 13 and 14 December 1990, and invited to report the day before to Nice prison in order to be taken into custody, the applicant produced on 10 December a certificate attesting his entry into the specialised hospital of Ville Evrard (Neuilly-sur-Marne) on 5 December, following an assault of which he had been the victim in Nice a few days previously.   By an order of 13 December 1990 the President of the Alpes-Maritimes Assize Court noted that Mr Kemmache had not given himself up to be taken into custody despite the conclusions of a medical report, drawn up at the request of the principal public prosecutor and filed on 11 December, according to which his psychological and mental state did not prevent him from appearing normally in the Assize Court.   In addition, he ordered the separation of the proceedings against the applicant from those concerning Mr Klaushofer, and postponed the case to a subsequent session.   22.   On 25 April 1991 the Alpes-Maritimes Assize Court sentenced the applicant - who had been re-arrested on 14 March 1991 under the arrest warrant issued by the Lyon Court of Appeal indictments division on 13 August 1985 (see paragraph 17 above) - to eleven years' imprisonment and a fine of 2,600,000 French francs.   The following day Mr Kemmache filed an appeal with the Court of Cassation, which is still pending.   (b) The proceedings concerning the subornation offence (l'affaire correctionnelle)   23.      On 4 March 1987 the Nice investigating judge committed Mr Kemmache and a co-accused for trial in the Nice Criminal Court (tribunal correctionnel) on the charges of suborning a witness and conspiring to suborn a witness.   On 20 October 1987 they were both acquitted.   B. The detention on remand   24.      During the two above-mentioned sets of proceedings the applicant remained in detention on remand for a total of more than three years.   1. The first detention (16 February - 29 March 1983)   25.      On the day on which he was charged with the main offence (crime), 16 February 1983 (see paragraph 10 above), Mr Kemmache was remanded in custody at Nice Prison.   On 29 March 1983 he was released subject to court supervision and the payment of a security of 500,000 francs; the investigating judge had dismissed a first application for release on 25 February 1983.   2. The second detention (22 March 1984 - 19 December 1986)   26.       Pursuant to an arrest warrant of 22 March 1984, the applicant was detained at the border of France and Monaco and brought before the investigating judge of the Nice tribunal de grande instance.   The same day the latter again remanded him in custody in Nice Prison and, on 26 March 1984, ordered that he appear before him.   The investigating judge took the view that Mr Ceccio's revelations gave grounds for fearing that pressure might be brought to bear on the witnesses (see paragraph 11 above) and Mr Kemmache had failed to comply with the summons to appear on 20 March (ibid.).   27.   The applicant then lodged numerous applications for his release; he claimed that he was innocent, maintaining that no new fact justified the issue of the second warrant, that there was no danger of his absconding, that he had not sought to evade trial and that his presence was necessary in charge of his business; he offered to lodge, as an additional security, any sum fixed by the courts.   In the memorials which he submitted at the hearings on 10 May 1984, 13 August 1985 and 28 October 1986, he stressed the reasons for his failure to appear on 20 March 1984 (see paragraphs 11 and 26 above).   In the first, he stated:          "[that] until 20 March 1984 he had complied with the      conditions of court supervision which had been imposed, that      on that date he [had] come to Nice where he [had] arrived on      18 March 1984 to obey the summons by the investigating judge,      who was to question him on 20 March at 3 p.m., that on      Monday 19 March, on his way to Miramas to visit the wife of      his associate, his car [had] broken down and this [had]      prevented him from attending the interview to which he had      been summoned."   In the second, he asserted that only "an unfortunate combination of circumstances, which he had explained at length," had prevented him from reporting to the investigating judge.   In the third, he affirmed as follows:          "Michel Kemmache acted entirely in good faith and that good      faith cannot be called in question in so far as ... he did      indeed intend reporting to the investigating judge.          He went to Nice as early as 18 March 1984, with a view to      attending an examination scheduled for 20 March 1984.          In this respect pursuant to the subpoena which was issued      on 11 April 1982, Mrs Evelyne Monod, the manager of the King      George Hotel at Nice, declared that Michel Kemmache had spent      two nights in her hotel, that, having arrived on      18 March 1984, he had left on 19 March 1984 in the afternoon.          It has also been established, by the attestation of      Mr Charles Kaiser, dated 17 July 1984, that Michel Kemmache      was to have visited him at home at Miramas on the evening of      19 March 1984 and to remain there until the morning of      20 March 1984.          As a result of mechanical problems affecting his motor      vehicle, he was prevented from returning to Nice on the date      and at the time fixed for the interview.          An attestation from the B.M.W. garage at Pavillon-sous-Bois,      the Bessin garage, establishes that Mr Michel Kemmache's car      had been kept for observation from 24 November 1983 to      10 February 1984, nearly three months, because the car had      already had mechanical problems.         However despite these mishaps Michel Kemmache went on the      following morning, the morning of 21 March, to the      investigating judge who chose to postpone the examination of      Michel Kemmache to a later date.          ..."   28.   The courts called upon to rule on these applications gave a series of decisions dismissing them, stating as their reasons essentially the lack of guarantees that the applicant would appear for trial, in that he had already tried to evade the obligations of court supervision, and the risk of pressure being brought to bear on the witnesses, in the light of Mr Ceccio's revelations.   Decision of the indictments division of the Aix-en-Provence Court of Appeal of 10 May 1984          "...          It appears that the results of the verifications effected to      determine how Kemmache spent the three days of 19, 20 and      21 March 1984, in particular the statements of Fernandez, who      was at his side for these three days, far from corroborating      the accused's explanations, contradict them, in particular as      regards the claim that he had undertaken a trip to Miramas in      the course of which an unexpected mechanical incident      occurred;          Ceccio's statements on the facts relating to the subornation      of which he accuses Kemmache are on the other hand      corroborated by various counterfoils of postal orders annexed      to the file and these facts are at least an indication of a      determination on the part of the accused to make every effort      to evade the sanctions which he is liable to incur given the      present state of the evidence against him resulting from the      investigation;          Having regard to this evidence, Kemmache risks a sentence      for a serious crime and his release would make it possible for      him to bring pressure to bear on witnesses, as he has already      tried to do in respect of Ceccio, and this is something of      which the investigating judge was unaware when he placed the      accused under court supervision, and to concert with third      parties with a view to impeding the establishment of the      truth;          It is also necessary to keep him in detention in order to      protect public order from the serious disturbance caused by      the offences in question, which were committed in the context      of an international traffic in counterfeit money, a feature of      organised crime;          In addition, Kemmache, who has previous convictions, in view      of the severity of the new sanction which he risks and the      latest developments as regards his conduct, would not seem to      be able to provide sufficient guarantees of his appearance for      trial and his detention now appears to be the only means of      ensuring with certainty that he will remain at the disposal of      the judicial authorities;          ..."   Decision of the indictments division of the Aix-en-Provence Court of Appeal of 24 July 1984          "...          The alleged offences are very serious since they consist of      a traffic in counterfeit money organised from a foreign      country;          ...          In a memorial lodged at the registry on 10 July 1984 by his      lawyer, he argues that he has a permanent address, that he is      a businessman, that he has a family and is therefore capable      of providing all the guarantees that he will appear for trial;          ...          Considerable evidence exists against the accused, who was      seriously implicated in the course of the investigation;          When placed under court supervision subject to the payment      of a security, he travelled without leave and without a valid      reason in order to deal with his business affairs in Paris;          He failed to comply with the summons of the investigating      judge, who had to have him re-arrested;          He is therefore not capable of providing sufficient      guarantees that he will appear for trial;          He may perfectly well not appear before the Assize Court,      the prospect of a sentence for serious crime being such as to      encourage him to flee;          His detention is necessary as a precautionary measure;          ..."   Decision of the indictments division of the Aix-en-Provence Court of Appeal of 7 August 1984          "...          He is however implicated in a major traffic in counterfeit      US dollars in which he is alleged to have played an important      role, considerable evidence exists against him and he cannot      provide guarantees that he will appear for trial;          ..."   Decision of the indictments division of the Aix-en-Provence Court of Appeal of 28 August 1984          "...          There is considerable evidence against the accused which      relates to serious offences such as are liable to disturb      public order, which must be maintained;          This evidence stems from the statements of a co-accused      Ceccio who formally implicated him, but also from other      testimony and his presence in a restaurant in Monaco with the      others involved in this case on the day on which delivery was      taken of the counterfeit banknotes;          Michel Kemmache has previous convictions and the guarantees      that he will appear for trial which he has proposed are      insufficient;          It is necessary to keep him in detention in order to ensure      that he will appear for trial;          His application for release must therefore be dismissed;          ..."   Decision of the indictments division of the Aix-en-Provence Court of Appeal of 9 October 1984          "...          There is considerable evidence against this accused, who on      that account risks a sentence for a major offence;          Kemmache's release would make it possible for him to bring      pressure to bear on the witnesses and to concert unlawfully      with third parties to impede the establishment of the truth,      as he has already done according to the statements of his co-      accused, Ceccio;          It is also necessary to keep him in detention in order to      protect public order from the grave disturbance caused by the      offence of participation in an international traffic in      counterfeit money, a feature of organised crime;          In addition, in view of his previous convictions and the      sanction he risks incurring, Kemmache, who when previously      under court supervision was finally apprehended on      22 March 1984 at the border of France and Monaco, cannot      provide sufficient guarantees that he will appear for trial      and his detention is necessary in order to ensure that he      remains at the disposal of the judicial authorities;          ..."   Decision of the indictments division of the Aix-en-Provence Court of Appeal of 13 November 1984          "...          Considerable evidence exists against this accused who      accordingly risks a sentence for a major offence;          Given that at this stage Kemmache denies any culpable      involvement in the alleged offences, his release would make it      possible for him to bring pressure to bear on the witnesses,      as he has already tried to do with his co-accused Ceccio, who      reported his attempts in this respect, and to concert      unlawfully with third parties in order to impede the      establishment of the truth;          It is also necessary to keep him in detention in order to      protect public order from the serious disturbance caused by      the alleged offence of participation in an international      traffic of counterfeit money, a feature of organised crime;          In addition, in view of his previous convictions and having      regard to the severity of the sentence which he risks,      Kemmache who, when placed under court supervision, was finally      apprehended on 22 March 1984 at the border of France and      Monaco, cannot provide sufficient guarantees that he will      appear for trial and his detention is necessary to ensure that      he remains at the disposal of the judicial authorities;          ..."   Decisions of the indictments division of the Grenoble Court of Appeal of 23 May and 18 June 1985          "...          Despite Michel Kemmache's denials, there is considerable      evidence of his guilt as noted in the decision of 15 May 1985      committing this accused for trial in the Alpes-Maritimes      Assize Court on charges of use on French and Monegasque      territory of counterfeit foreign money and ... unlawful      circulation of counterfeit banknotes within the customs area;          The seriousness of the offences resulted in a profound and      long lasting disturbance of public order; Michel Kemmache was      placed in detention the second time because he had failed to      comply with a summons by the investigating judge;          If he were to be released, there is a risk that he would      evade trial;          He could also, as he has already done in respect of Ceccio,      bring pressure to bear on witnesses;          The application for release filed by Michel Kemmache must      accordingly be dismissed;          ..."   Decision of the indictments division of the Lyon Court of Appeal of 13 August 1985          "...          The alleged offences in respect of which there are serious      and concurring indications of Kemmache's guilt are not as he      maintains harmless offences, but are particularly serious ones      which caused a considerable disturbance to public order;          While Kemmache does indeed have a fixed address, he has      already been convicted twice and sentenced to long terms of      imprisonment for theft;          The guarantees that he will appear for trial which he claims      to be reliable are all the more doubtful since he has already      had to be returned to detention after a period of freedom      because he failed to comply with the summons of the      investigating judge;          In these circumstances his application for release must be      dismissed both in order to keep at the disposal of the      judicial authorities an accused in respect of whom there are      serious indications of guilt and who cannot provide genuine      guarantees that he will appear for trial and with a view to      protecting public order from the disturbance caused by the      offence and to avoid its repetition;          ..."   On 17 July and 3 September 1985 the Criminal Division of the Court of Cassation quashed the two decisions of the indictments division of the Grenoble Court of Appeal of 23 May and 18 June 1985 on the ground that the composition of the indictments division had been unlawful, but dismissed on 29 October 1985 an appeal against the decision given in Lyon on 13 August 1985.   29.   On 18 April 1986 the indictments division of the Lyon Court of Appeal dismissed a further application, filed with it on 1 April and based on Article 5 para. 3 (art. 5-3) of the Convention.   It found as follows:          "...          At this stage of the proceedings there [is] sufficient      evidence that the accused committed the alleged offences, in      other words that he was, irrespective of the subornation      charge, one of the organisers of a major traffic in      counterfeit dollars;          Such offences caused a disturbance to public order, an      important aspect of which is the confidence that individuals,      businessmen, bankers and any other persons must be able to      have in money, and only detention can protect against such      disturbance;          In view of the complexity of the facts, their particular      gravity and the heavy sentence risked, detention of two to      three years is not abnormal, regard being had to the last      appeals filed (in the Court of Cassation), which were      dismissed; thus the accused's right to be tried within a      reasonable time has not been infringed, in particular because      he appears not to be unconnected with the President of the      Assize Court's decision to adjourn the case;          ...          In addition, in view of the heavy sentence risked, only      detention can ensure that this accused will appear for trial      and remove from him, as a person with two previous      convictions, the temptation to resort again to a life of crime      and to bring pressure to bear on the witnesses and the co-      accused, the announcement of whose forthcoming release is      perhaps premature;          It follows that, both to protect public order from the      disturbance caused by the traffic in counterfeit banknotes and      to prevent the repetition of the offence as well as to ensure      that the accused appears for trial and to avoid pressure being      brought to bear on the witnesses and the co-accused, detention      remains necessary;          ..."   On 16 July 1986 the Criminal Division of the Court of Cassation dismissed the applicant's appeal against this decision:          "In the light of these reasons and taking into account the      new fact on which the President of the Assize Court's decision      to adjourn the case in the interests of the proper      administration of justice was founded, the indictments      division could, irrespective of the fact that certain of the      grounds given were superfluous, consider, as it did, that the      accused's right to be tried within a reasonable time had not      been disregarded in this instance;          ..."   30.   Further decisions dismissing applications for release were given subsequently:   Decision of the indictments division of the Lyon Court of Appeal of 5 September 1986          "...          As the indictments division already held on 18 April 1986,      in connection with an earlier, similar application, for      reasons which remain entirely valid, the decision committing      the accused for trial shows that there is sufficient evidence      that the accused, and only his personal situation is relevant      in this respect, did commit the offences in question, namely      that he was, irrespective of the subornation charge, one of      the organisers of a major traffic in counterfeit dollars;          Such offences caused a disturbance to public order, an      important aspect of which is the confidence that individuals,      businessmen, bankers and any other persons must be able to      have in money, and only detention can protect against such      disturbance;          In view of the complexity of the facts, their particular      gravity and the heavy sentence risked, detention of two or      three years is not abnormal, regard being had to the last      appeals filed (in the Court of Cassation), which were      dismissed; thus the accused's right to be tried within a      reasonable time has not been infringed, in particular because      he appears not to be unconnected with the President of the      Assize Court's decision to adjourn the case;          ...          In addition, in view of the heavy sentence risked, only      detention can ensure that the accused will appear for trial      and remove from him, as a person with two previous      convictions, the temptation to resort again to a life of crime      and to bring pressure to bear on the witnesses and the co-      accused;          It follows that, both with a view to protecting public order      from the disturbance caused by the traffic in counterfeit      banknotes and to prevent the repetition of the offence as well      as to ensure that the accused appears for trial and to avoid      pressure being brought to bear on the witnesses and the co-      accused, detention remains necessary;          ..."   Decision of the indictments division of the Lyon Court of Appeal of 20 September 1986          "...          It appears from the proceedings that there are on the facts      serious and concurring indications that Kemmache was one of      the organisers of a very major traffic in counterfeit 100 US      dollar banknotes, as Ceccio and Klaushofer's statements have      been corroborated by the concurring statements of Miss Busson,      of Brahim and others and by the facts ascertained and the      information obtained;          Such offences entailed for public order, an important aspect      of which is the confidence which individuals, bankers and      other persons must be able to have in money, a disturbance      which only detention can alleviate;          His criminal record (two convictions) gives rise to fears      that he might resume a life of crime;          In the light of the heavy sentence risked, the guarantees      that he will appear for trial are very far from being      sufficient;          Finally, if he were released, Kemmache could be tempted to      continue to bring pressure to bear on his co-accused and on      the witnesses;          Accordingly, in order to alleviate the disturbance caused to      public order by the offence and to ensure that the accused      does not, as he has done in the past, fail to answer      summonses, to avoid his resuming a life of crime and pressure      being brought to bear on the witnesses and his co-accused,      detention remains necessary;          ..."   Decision of the indictments division of the Lyon Court of Appeal of 28 October 1986          "...          Although the detention has indeed been long, the nature and      the complexity of the case, the large number of appeals, and      the development of a related case of subornation explain the      delays in concluding the proceedings and in bringing the      accused before the trial court;          Having regard to all the evidence, it does not, however,      appear that the periods involved have been abnormal and that      the rights of the accused set out in the Convention referred      to have been disregarded;          With regard to the guarantees that he will appear for trial,      Kemmache relies on a fixed address where his wife states that      she is ready to welcome him and provides three attestations of      employers who say that they are ready to employ him;          He states that he was released on 29 March 1983 by the      investigating judge after his imprisonment on      16 February 1983, subject to court supervision, and then      reincarcerated on 22 March 1984 for not having complied with      the obligations imposed on him; he maintains that he cannot be      blamed for this conduct since a mistake as to the date, not      attributable to him, was at its origin;          The claims concerning guarantees made by Mr Kemmache appear      sincere even though the number of promises of immediate      employment is somewhat unusual at a time of widespread      unemployment;          However, in view of Kemmache's criminal record and the      severity of the sentence risked, it is to be feared that the      accused, who is known to have contacts abroad, will try to      evade trial;          Given the nature of the offence, a repetition is also to be      feared;   &#Articles de loi cités
Article 5 CEDHArticle 5-3 CEDHArticle 6 CEDHArticle 6-1 CEDH
Citations
Aucune citation répertoriée pour cette décision.
Décisions connexes
Aucune décision similaire identifiée pour le moment.
Synthèse
- Juridiction
- CEDH
- Chambre
- CASELAW;JUDGMENTS;CHAMBER;ENG
- Formation
- 9
- Dispositif
- Satisfaction
- Date
- 27 novembre 1991
- Matière
- droits fondamentaux
Référence
ECLI:CE:ECHR:1991:1127JUD001232586