CEDH · CASELAW;REPORTS;ENG — 6 septembre 1994

.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 }                        EUROPEAN COMMISSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS                                FIRST CHAMBER                          Application No. 18249/91                          by F. K., T. M. and C. H.                                   against                                   Austria                            REPORT OF THE COMMISSION                        (adopted on 6 September 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 F. K., T. M. and C. H. against Austria on 14 May 1991.   It was registered on 23 May 1991 under file No. 18249/91.         The applicants are represented by Mr. G. Simonvay, a lawyer practising in Vienna.   The Government of Austria are 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 applicants' complaints that, after their respective arrests, they were not promptly brought before a judge (Article 5 para. 3 of the Convention), and that, at the initial stage of the proceedings, they were not afforded the guarantees of a judicial procedure (Article 5 para. 4 and Article 6 of the Convention).   On 2 March 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 6 September 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            A.S. GÖZÜBÜYÜK       Mrs. J. LIDDY       MM.   M.P. PELLONPÄÄ            B. MARXER            B. CONFORTI            N. BRATZA            I. BÉKÉS            E. KONSTANTINOV                                   PART I                           STATEMENT OF THE FACTS   5.     On 13 September 1990 the first applicant was arrested by Austrian police authorities on the suspicion of having professionally committed burglaries with other suspects.   His request to contact his counsel Mr. Simonfay was refused.   On 15 September 1990 the first applicant was committed to the prison at the Eisenstadt Regional Court, and on 18 September 1990 to the Prison at the Leoben Regional Court.   In the morning of the next day, the Investigating Judge, having heard the applicant, ordered his detention on remand.   6.     On 25 September 1990 the Investigating Judge at the Leoben Regional Court issued warrants of arrest against the second and the third applicant, also suspecting them of having professionally received stolen goods.   The second and the third applicant were arrested in Vienna on 26 September 1990, and transferred to the Prison at the Vienna Regional Court in the course of the next day.   7.     On 28 September 1990 the second and the third applicant were questioned by the Duty Judge at the Vienna Regional Court upon a request of the Leoben Regional Court.   On 1 October 1990 the Duty Judge informed them that the competent Investigating Judge at the Leoben Regional Court had decided that they be taken into detention on remand.   8.     Following an intervention by his relatives, the first applicant was represented by Mr. Simonfay as from 5 October 1990, the second and the third applicant as from 10 October 1990.   9.     In the course of the preliminary investigations, the Investigating Judge at the Leoben Regional Court only partly granted the applicants' requests that their defence counsel be granted access to the files concerning the investigations against them.   10.    On 29 November 1990 the Judges' Chamber at the Leoben Regional Court, following hearings, ordered inter alia the first and the third applicant's continued detention on remand.   On 13 December 1990 the Judges' Chamber, following a hearing, ordered the second applicant's continued detention on remand.   The applicants' appeals were to no avail.   11.    The applicants were eventually convicted by the Vienna Regional Court of having committed burglary on various counts, and prison sentences were imposed.   Having served their sentences, the applicants returned to Hungary.                                   PART II                                SOLUTION REACHED   12.    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.   13.    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.   14.    By letters of 18 July 1994 and 16 August 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.   <Translation>       "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. 18249/91, lodged by F. K., T. M. and C. H., 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       applicants a sum amounting to altogether AS 85,000 as       compensation in respect of any possible claims relating to   the       present application.   This sum is composed of a sum of AS 20,000       for each of the applicants, and 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 applicants' counsel,       Mr. Géza Simonfay in Vienna (Konto: Bank Austria 240-115-123/00).         2.    The applicants declare their application settled.         3.    The applicants waive any further claims against the Republic       of Austria relating to the present application."   <German>              "Erklärungen der Parteien zur gütlichen Regelung         In der Individualbeschwerde Nr. 18249/91 der F.K., T.M. und C.H. 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 den Beschwerdeführern       als Ausgleich für sämtliche etwaigen Ansprüche im Zusammenhang       mit der vorliegenden Individualbeschwerde einen Gesamtbetrag von       AS 85,000.   Dieser Betrag setzt sich susammen aus einem Betrag       von AS 20,000 für jeden der Beschwerdeführer und einem Betrag von       AS 25,000 hinsichtlich der Gebühren und Auslagen, die im Rahmen       des Verfahren vor der Kommission entstanden sind.              Dieser Betrag wird an den Verfahrensbevollmächtigten der       Beschwerdeführer Dr. Géza Simonfay in Wien (Konto: Bank Austria       240-115-123/00) überwiesen.         2.    Die Beschwerdeführer erklären ihre oben genannte Beschwerde       als erledigt.         3.    Die Beschwerdeführer verzichten auf die Geltendmachung       allfälliger weiterer Forderungen gegen die Republik Österreich       im Zusammenhang mit dem der Beschwerde zugrundeliegenden       Sachverhalt."   15.    At its session on 6 September 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.   16.    For these reasons, the Commission adopted the present Report.   Secretary to the First Chamber          President of the First Chamber        (M.F. BUQUICCHIO)                           (A. WEITZEL)