Zurich High Court: acquittals for SRG executives confirmed
The Zurich High Court has acquitted two SRG executives of violating the Lottery Act by airing illegal commercials. It upheld the acquittal handed down by the lower court.
The point of contention is the advertising spots of a foreign betting company that were broadcast 77 times on the SRG stations SF 1 and SF 2 between March 19 and April 5, 2007. The lottery company Swisslos filed a complaint. The Zurich District Governor's Office then sentenced the head of the SRG legal service and a person responsible for acquisition at the SRG subsidiary Publisuisse to fines of CHF 3,000 and CHF 10,000 for violating the Lottery Act. As the company offered various sports betting, casino games and poker products, the advertising spot was not permitted in Switzerland, argued the Office of the Prosecutor. The District Court of Zurich overturned the penalty order, but the Office of the Governor took the case further.
The High Court has now confirmed the acquittal. It denied any authorship on the part of the defendants. They were neither the intellectual authors of the advertising message nor the clients.
They did not produce the commercial and did not commission it, according to the written verdict. The two acquitted parties will receive compensation of CHF 2,500 each.
The High Court has now confirmed the acquittal. It denied any authorship on the part of the defendants. They were neither the intellectual authors of the advertising message nor the clients.
They did not produce the commercial and did not commission it, according to the written verdict. The two acquitted parties will receive compensation of CHF 2,500 each.
