Head of Communications the only culprit in the Fierz case
Former Zurich government councillor Dorothée Fierz did not violate official secrecy in spring 2006. The Zurich District Court acquitted her and three former employees on Thursday. In contrast, the then head of communications was convicted.
Former Zurich government councillor Dorothée Fierz did not violate official secrecy in spring 2006. The Zurich District Court acquitted her and three former employees on Thursday. In contrast, the then head of communications was convicted. The court hearing revolved around the publication of confidential documents from the construction department to the Tages Anzeiger and the Neue Zürcher Zeitung on April 27, 2006, against the backdrop of a public dispute over the civil engineering department between Construction Director Fierz (FDP) and Economics Director Rita Fuhrer (SVP).
The acquittal of Fierz and her employees was based on the principle of "in case of doubt for the accused", as the single judge explained in the brief oral reasons for the verdict. Fierz and the three co-defendants were awarded trial compensation of between around CHF 29,000 and CHF 34,000.
The only guilty party is therefore a fifth defendant, the then Head of Communications at the Construction Directorate. He had passed on confidential documents to individual media. He had denounced himself and confessed. He was sentenced to a conditional fine of 45 daily rates of CHF 120 each and an unconditional fine of CHF 1,000 by the public prosecutor's office.
The head of communications stated that he had pointed out at a meeting that the press would report differently on the dispute between Fierz and Fuhrer if they could see certain documents. His suggestion to hand over documents to selected media was approved by Fierz and the others. The unanimous response was: "Do it, I just don't know anything about it".
Fierz and her three co-defendants strongly disputed these facts. According to the judge, the statements of the four did not appear to be coordinated and credible. In contrast, the statements of the head of communications made a "stereotypical, contrived and rehearsed impression", which the court considered to be "signals of lies".
The acquittal of Fierz and her employees was based on the principle of "in case of doubt for the accused", as the single judge explained in the brief oral reasons for the verdict. Fierz and the three co-defendants were awarded trial compensation of between around CHF 29,000 and CHF 34,000.
The only guilty party is therefore a fifth defendant, the then Head of Communications at the Construction Directorate. He had passed on confidential documents to individual media. He had denounced himself and confessed. He was sentenced to a conditional fine of 45 daily rates of CHF 120 each and an unconditional fine of CHF 1,000 by the public prosecutor's office.
The head of communications stated that he had pointed out at a meeting that the press would report differently on the dispute between Fierz and Fuhrer if they could see certain documents. His suggestion to hand over documents to selected media was approved by Fierz and the others. The unanimous response was: "Do it, I just don't know anything about it".
Fierz and her three co-defendants strongly disputed these facts. According to the judge, the statements of the four did not appear to be coordinated and credible. In contrast, the statements of the head of communications made a "stereotypical, contrived and rehearsed impression", which the court considered to be "signals of lies".
