Geneva
Punished for relieving himself in a park, a quadra justifies himself and refuses to pay the fine. He will spend two days in the cell. Elected officials are offended.
Raph ‘had preferred the bush to the toilet, occupied by a drug addict.
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Raph ‘will play a last game of pétanque this Friday before spending his weekend behind bars in Champ-Dollon. His bladder and his “rebellious spirit” in the face of “a stupid situation” earned him two days in prison for refusing to perform a country dance.
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Months ago, the 48-year-old Genevan was playing boules in the Parc des Cropettes, above the Cornavin station (GE), when he was seized with an urgent need. “In the nearby public toilets, there was an addict with a syringe in his arm. I didn’t want to go. But I couldn’t hold back anymore and I relieved myself in a bush. Unfortunately, two policemen were passing by. ” Despite his explanations, the agents inflicted a 280-franc log on him. “They preferred to punish me rather than pursue the drug addict.” Raph ‘contested the sanction, reduced to 200 fr. “But I don’t want to pay, it’s a matter of principle.” His sentence was commuted to days of detention. “I don’t give a fuck! Prison does not scare me, I have already done so for others refusing to pay a fine. And then, there, I will be protected from the coronavirus. ”
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A “foolish” system
The case of the quadra irritates both the right and the left, within the Visitors’ Commission of the Grand Council, which monitors the conditions of detention of prisoners. For its president, Alberto Velasco (PS), “this shows all the imbecility of a system that no longer works. Incarcerating someone for non-payment of a fine will cost the taxpayer much more than the amount owed (ndlr: each day of a prisoner in prison represents several hundred francs in costs for the State). I would also remind you that Champ-Dollon is overloaded ”. According to the deputy, it would be better to follow the example of Friborg, which favors community service in these situations (cf. box below).
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Admittedly, the law is the law, remarks for his part the PLR Jean Romain, “but it is necessary to know reason to keep and to show discernment”. His party colleague Antoine Barde nods: “Going behind bars is potentially a shock for anyone. But above all, the prison is devoted to dangerous people, which does not seem to me to be the case with this gentleman. We apply rigorous justice here. ”
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Avoid prison, to “be of service”
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For fines or penalties of up to 6 months, Friborg prefers community service in the shadow of a cell. “This solution is used a lot,” confirms Simon Gabaglio, deputy head of the Department for the execution of criminal sanctions and probation. This is of service to civil society and the measure can also prevent a worsening of the economic situation of the convicted person. ” 100 francs of contredance is generally equivalent to one day in the service of EMS, hospitals or the road network. To benefit from such an arrangement, the accused must request it. To do this, explains Simon Gabaglio, “we have ensured that information to this effect is delivered to the people concerned”.
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