Geneva politicians acquitted in court
Court President Sabina Mascotto did not rule out that Brandt had actually forwarded a confidential report from the financial control of the city of Geneva on expenses of the city officials to the press in December 2018. However, based on the results of the investigation, this cannot be said with certainty, the judge stated.
The confidential report was given to the five members of the Geneva City Council (executive) and around 40 members of the city administration. It cannot be ruled out that someone else will have to leak the information, says Mascotto.
The president of the court pointed out that Brandt had made little precise statements about the course of events. The politician stated that he could not remember having forwarded the report to a journalist. Nothing on file – no email, no phone call – indicates that he did so.
According to the court, however, Brandt had reasons to forward the confidential report. For himself, because he was running for the city executive, and also for his confidante, Pierre Maudet. The report could have distracted people from the legal troubles the former State Councilor was facing at the time.
A text message exchange between Brandt and Maudet, which indicated that the conversation did not allow any conclusions to be drawn about guilt, the police court found.
In her judgment, Judge Brandt, who was not present when the verdict was pronounced, awarded 200 francs for non-pecuniary damage and 2000 francs for body searches, which the police had to endure the MPs. In addition, the court awarded the politician around 12,000 francs for defense costs. His lawyers had asked for a sum of more than one million francs.
Attorney General Olivier Jornot, who had called for the former city council candidate to be convicted, did not comment after the trial.