Dammann proceedings: Federal Court revises its own judgment

Blick reporter Viktor Dammann has now been acquitted by the Federal Supreme Court after all. And the first instance court is also taking the case back to court. The reason: for the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), the journalist's conviction violates the right to freedom of expression. However, the publishing house Ringier must pay the CHF 33,530 in legal fees and court costs itself. However, the court rejected compensation for Dammann on the grounds that his employer Ringier had paid the costs in question, reports SDA. In 1997, in connection with the Fraumünster mail robbery, Dammann had asked an employee of the Zurich public prosecutor's office for details of suspects' previous convictions and received the information. In 1999, he was fined 500 francs for incitement to violate official secrecy. The Federal Supreme Court confirmed the judgment of the Zurich judiciary in 2001.
Last April, the ECHR in Strasbourg came to the conclusion that Dammann's conviction violated the right to freedom of expression. Dammann then appealed to the Federal Supreme Court, which has now overturned his 2001 verdict. The case has now been referred back to the Zurich High Court for acquittal.