CEDH · CASELAW;REPORTS;ENG — 16 avril 1996

.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. 21024/92                              Ernst Volkert                                 against                                 Austria                        REPORT OF THE COMMISSION                     (adopted on 16 April 1996)                            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 Ernst Volkert against Austria on 2 September 1992.   It was registered on 2 December 1992 under file No. 21024/92.        The applicant was represented by Mr. K. Bernhauser.        The Government of Austria were represented by their Agent, Mr. Christian Strohal, Minister, Deputy Legal Adviser.   2.    On 27 June 1995 the Commission (First Chamber) declared the application admissible.   It 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."   3.    The Commission (First Chamber) found that the parties had reached a friendly settlement of the case and on 16 April 1996 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.   C.L. ROZAKIS, President                E. BUSUTTIL                A. WEITZEL                M.P. PELLONPÄÄ                B. MARXER                B. CONFORTI                N. BRATZA                I. BÉKÉS                E. KONSTANTINOV                A. PERENIC                C. BÎRSAN                K. HERNDL                                 PART I                         STATEMENT OF THE FACTS     4.    The applicant is an Austrian citizen, born in 1945 and living in Vienna.   5.    On 10 May 1982 the applicant wrote to the Public Prosecution at Vienna Regional Court (Landesgericht) accusing himself of negligent bankruptcy (fahrlässige Krida).   At the same time he made a request to the Vienna Regional Court for composition proceedings (Ausgleichsantrag).   On 14 May 1982 the prosecution submitted the case to the commercial crime department of the police for investigations.   6.    On 22 February 1985 the Public Prosecution filed an indictment against the applicant and another businessman.   7.    On 15 September 1988 the applicant was convicted by the Vienna Regional Court on seven counts of negligent bankruptcy, one count of aggravated fraud (schwerer Betrug) and two counts of fraudulent bankruptcy.   8.    The applicant was sentenced to 30 months' imprisonment.   In respect of part of the sentence (20 months imprisonment) the applicant was granted a 3 year period of probation.   On 17 May 1989 the applicant lodged an appeal as to the sentence and a plea of nullity.   The latter remedy was partly granted by the Supreme Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) which on 20 March 1990 in part confirmed the judgment appealed from but sent the case back for a new trial in the respect of one count of aggravated fraud and consequently for a new determination of the sentence.   9.    On 5 November 1991 the applicant was acquitted on one count of aggravated fraud but he was given an additional sentence of 23 months and 5 days imprisonment for the offenses with regard to which the Supreme Court had confirmed the applicants' culpability.   10.   On 8 April 1992 the Vienna Court of Appeal following an appeal lodged by the Public Prosecution amended the sentence to 27 months and 5 days imprisonment granting a period of probation of 2 years with regard to twenty months of this sentence.   11.   The applicant complained of the length of the criminal proceedings under Article 6 para. 1 of the Convention.                                 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 letter dated 18 September 1995 the applicant proposed that he would be prepared to accept an amount of 75.000 AS in friendly settlement.   15.   By letter dated 12 January 1996, the respondent Government informed the Commission that they agreed on the terms of a friendly settlement with the applicant and submitted the following declaration:     [Translation]        "1.   The Austrian Government will pay to the applicant a sum of           altogether AS 75,000 as compensation in respect of any           possible claims relating to the present application,           including all counsel's fees and expenses.        2.    The applicant declares his application settled.        3.    The applicant waives any further claims against the           Republic of Austria relating to the present application."     [German]        "1.   Die Regierung der Republik Österreich zahlt dem           Beschwerdeführer als Ausgleich für sämtliche etwaigen           Ansprüche einschließlich Anwaltskosten und Auslagen im           Zusammenhang mit der vorliegenden Individualbeschwerde           einen Betrag von insgesamt ÖS 75.000.        2.    Der Beschwerdeführer erklärt seine obengenannte Beschwerde           als erledigt.        3.    Der Beschwerdeführer verzichtet auf die Geltendmachung           allfälliger weiterer Forderungen gegen Österreich, die mit           dem Gegenstand der Beschwerde zusammenhängen."   16.   At its session on 16 April 1996, 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.   17.   For these reasons, the Commission adopted the present Report.     Secretary to the First Chamber     President of the First Chamber        (M.F. BUQUICCHIO)                     (C.L. ROZAKIS)