Shipping Convicted former shipowner achieves partial success before the Federal Supreme Court
The former Swiss shipowner Hans-Jürg Grunder has been partially vindicated in his appeal to the Federal Supreme Court in the case of benefit fraud. The Bernese High Court must now reassess the Confederation's claims and the sentence.
06.03.2025, 12:00
SDA
Switzerland's highest court has rejected the complaints regarding the other offenses. In 2022, the lower court sentenced Grunder to five years and five months' imprisonment for fraud, multiple counts of qualified fraudulent mismanagement, multiple counts of forgery of documents and obtaining a false notarization. It also found him guilty of so-called benefit fraud.
The Federal Supreme Court overturned the conviction for part of the benefit fraud. This relates to the continuation of federal guarantees for Grunder's ships. Administrative criminal law explicitly only refers to a concession, permit or quota - but not to a guarantee - when it comes to fraudulently preventing the withdrawal of a benefit.
