PROCEDURE

The case was referred to the Court by the European Commission of Human Rights (“the Commission“) and then by the Belgian Government (“the Government“) on 11 July and 26 September 1990, within the three-month period laid down by Article 32 para. 1 and Article 47 (art. 32-1, art. 47) of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (“the Convention“). It originated in an application (no. 12005/86) against the Kingdom of Belgium lodged with the Commission under Article 25 (art. 25) by a Belgian national, Mr André Borgers, on 5 December 1985. The Commission’s request referred to Articles 44 and 48 (art. 44, art. 48) and to the declaration whereby Belgium recognised the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court (Article 46) (art. 46); the Government’s application referred to Article 48 (art. 48). The object of the request and of the application was to obtain a decision as to whether the facts of the case disclosed a breach by the respondent State of its obligations under Article 6 (art. 6) of the Convention.

In response to the enquiry made in accordance with Rule 33 para. 3 (d) of the Rules of Court, the applicant stated that he wished to take part in the proceedings and designated the lawyer who would represent him (Rule 30).

The Chamber to be constituted included ex officio Mr J. De Meyer, the elected judge of Belgian nationality (Article 43 of the Convention) (art. 43), and Mr R. Ryssdal, the President of the Court (Rule 21 para. 3 (b)). On 27 August 1990, in the presence of the Registrar, the President drew by lot the names of the other seven members, namely Mr J. Cremona, Mr F. Matscher, Mr B. Walsh, Mr C. Russo, Mr N. Valticos, Mr A.N. Loizou and Mr J.M. Morenilla (Article 43 in fine of the Convention and Rule 21 para. 4) (art. 43). On 18 July 1990 Mr De Meyer had stated that he wished to withdraw from the case pursuant to Rule 24 para. 2, because it raised the same issues as those which had arisen at the time in the Delcourt case, in which he had acted as Agent and Counsel for the Government (judgment of 17 January 1970, Series A no. 11, p. 5, para. 7). On 21 September the Permanent Representative of Belgium to the Council of Europe informed the Registrar that Professor M. Storme had been appointed to sit as ad hoc judge (Article 43 of the Convention and Rule 23) (art. 43).

Mr Ryssdal assumed the office of President of the Chamber (Rule 21 para. 5) and, through the Registrar, consulted the Agent of the Government, the Delegate of the Commission and the applicant’s representative on the need for a written procedure (Rule 37 para. 1). In accordance with the orders made in consequence, the Registrar received the Government’s memorial on 17 December 1990 and that of the applicant on 13 January 1991. In a letter of 14 January the Secretary to the Commission informed the Registrar that the Delegate would submit his observations at the hearing.

On 23 January 1991 the Chamber decided to relinquish jurisdiction forthwith in favour of the plenary Court (Rule 51).

Having consulted, through the Registrar, those who would be appearing before the Court, the President had directed on 12 October 1990 that the oral proceedings should open on 19 March 1991 (Rule 38).

The hearing took place in public in the Human Rights Building, Strasbourg, on the appointed day. The Court had held a preparatory meeting beforehand. There appeared before the Court:

for the Government Mr J. Lathouwers, legal officer, Ministry of Justice, Agent, Mr P. Van Ommeslaghe, avocat, Mr P. Gérard, avocat, Counsel;

for the Commission Mr S. Trechsel, Delegate;

for the applicant Mr J. Gillardin, avocat, Counsel. The Court heard addresses by Mr Van Ommeslaghe, Mr Trechsel and Mr Gillardin, as well as their replies to its questions.

At the final deliberations Mr Cremona, the Vice-President of the Court, replaced Mr Ryssdal as President, the latter being unable to take part in the further consideration of the case (Rule 9).

AS TO THE FACTS

I. THE PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE

Mr André Borgers, a Belgian national residing at Lummen (Belgium), is a lawyer who currently practises at the Hasselt Bar.

On 8 November 1981 he was elected provincial counsellor and thereupon tendered his resignation from the post of substitute district judge (juge de paix suppléant) which he had held since 12 April 1976, but which under the Judicial Code was incompatible with his new elected office.

On 16 June 1981 he had appeared before the Antwerp Court of Appeal charged with forgery and using forged documents, the latter court having jurisdiction by virtue of the privileges which he enjoyed in this respect as a judicial officer. On 19 May 1982 it imposed on him a suspended sentence of six months’ imprisonment and fined him 40,000 Belgian francs.

The applicant appealed to the Court of Cassation on points of law. He argued that in its judgment convicting him the Court of Appeal had failed to give an adequate statement of its reasons and to attach sufficient weight to the records of the investigating judge’s examinations; he contended further that the judgment had been delivered following a violation of the rights of the defence. In accordance with usual practice, the procureur général’s department of the Antwerp Court of Appeal did not submit a memorial in reply.

On 20 March 1984 the Court of Cassation allowed the appeal and quashed the contested decision on the ground that an adequate statement of the reasons on which it was based had not been given. Previously, at the hearing, it had heard the report of the judge rapporteur, Mr d’Haenens, and the concurring submissions (conclusions) of Mr Tillekaerts, the avocat général (a member of the procureur général’s department). The latter had also attended the deliberations in accordance with Article 1109 of the Judicial Code (see paragraph 17 below).

The Ghent Court of Appeal, to which the case had been remitted, convicted the applicant on 14 November 1984 and imposed on him identical sanctions to those resulting from the earlier decision (see paragraph 11 above). Mr Borgers again appealed to the Court of Cassation; he complained inter alia that the judgment in question had failed to state sufficient reasons and had misinterpreted the provisions of criminal law concerning forged documents and statutory limitation.

His appeal was dismissed on 18 June 1985, following a hearing at which the Court heard the report of the judge rapporteur, Mr d’Haenens, and the concurring submissions of Mr Tillekaerts, the avocat général, who had again participated in the deliberations (see paragraph 17 below).
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-57720_a5_e1
001-57720_a5_em1
ORG
NO_MASK
European Commission of Human Rights
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e2
001-57720_a5_em2
ORG
QUASI
Belgian Government
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-57720_a5_e3
001-57720_a5_em3
DATETIME
QUASI
11 July and 26 September 1990
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e4
001-57720_a5_em4
DATETIME
NO_MASK
three-month
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e5
001-57720_a5_em5
CODE
DIRECT
12005/86
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e6
001-57720_a5_em6
ORG
QUASI
Kingdom of Belgium
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-57720_a5_e7
001-57720_a5_em7
DEM
QUASI
Belgian national
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e8
001-57720_a5_em8
PERSON
DIRECT
001-57720_a5_em69
Mr André Borgers
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e9
001-57720_a5_em9
DATETIME
QUASI
5 December 1985
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e6
001-57720_a5_em10
ORG
QUASI
001-57720_a5_em6
Belgium
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e10
001-57720_a5_em11
PERSON
QUASI
Mr J. De Meyer
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-57720_a5_e11
001-57720_a5_em12
DEM
QUASI
Belgian nationality
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e12
001-57720_a5_em13
PERSON
QUASI
Mr R. Ryssdal
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e13
001-57720_a5_em14
DATETIME
QUASI
27 August 1990
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e14
001-57720_a5_em15
PERSON
QUASI
Mr J. Cremona
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e15
001-57720_a5_em16
PERSON
QUASI
Mr F. Matscher
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e16
001-57720_a5_em17
PERSON
QUASI
Mr B. Walsh
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e17
001-57720_a5_em18
PERSON
QUASI
Mr C. Russo
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e18
001-57720_a5_em19
PERSON
QUASI
Mr N. Valticos
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e19
001-57720_a5_em20
PERSON
QUASI
Mr A.N. Loizou
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e20
001-57720_a5_em21
PERSON
QUASI
Mr J.M. Morenilla
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e21
001-57720_a5_em22
DATETIME
QUASI
18 July 1990
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e10
001-57720_a5_em23
PERSON
QUASI
001-57720_a5_em11
Mr De Meyer
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e22
001-57720_a5_em24
PERSON
QUASI
Delcourt
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e23
001-57720_a5_em25
DATETIME
QUASI
17 January 1970
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e24
001-57720_a5_em26
DATETIME
QUASI
21 September
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e6
001-57720_a5_em27
ORG
QUASI
Belgium
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e25
001-57720_a5_em28
ORG
NO_MASK
Council of Europe
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-57720_a5_e26
001-57720_a5_em29
PERSON
QUASI
Professor M. Storme
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e12
001-57720_a5_em30
PERSON
QUASI
001-57720_a5_em13
Mr Ryssdal
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e27
001-57720_a5_em31
DATETIME
QUASI
17 December 1990
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e28
001-57720_a5_em32
DATETIME
QUASI
13 January 1991
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e29
001-57720_a5_em33
DATETIME
QUASI
14 January
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e30
001-57720_a5_em34
DATETIME
QUASI
23 January 1991
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e31
001-57720_a5_em35
DATETIME
QUASI
12 October 1990
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e32
001-57720_a5_em36
DATETIME
QUASI
19 March 1991
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e33
001-57720_a5_em37
LOC
NO_MASK
Human Rights Building, Strasbourg
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e34
001-57720_a5_em38
PERSON
QUASI
Mr J. Lathouwers
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-57720_a5_e35
001-57720_a5_em39
ORG
NO_MASK
Ministry of Justice
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e36
001-57720_a5_em40
PERSON
QUASI
Mr P. Van Ommeslaghe
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e37
001-57720_a5_em41
PERSON
QUASI
Mr P. Gérard
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e38
001-57720_a5_em42
PERSON
QUASI
Mr S. Trechsel
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e39
001-57720_a5_em43
PERSON
QUASI
Mr J. Gillardin
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e36
001-57720_a5_em44
PERSON
QUASI
001-57720_a5_em40
Mr Van Ommeslaghe
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e38
001-57720_a5_em45
PERSON
QUASI
001-57720_a5_em42
Mr Trechsel
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e39
001-57720_a5_em46
PERSON
QUASI
001-57720_a5_em43
Mr Gillardin
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e40
001-57720_a5_em47
PERSON
QUASI
Mr Cremona
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e12
001-57720_a5_em48
PERSON
QUASI
Mr Ryssdal
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e8
001-57720_a5_em49
PERSON
DIRECT
Mr André Borgers
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e7
001-57720_a5_em50
DEM
QUASI
Belgian national
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-57720_a5_e41
001-57720_a5_em51
LOC
QUASI
Lummen (Belgium)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-57720_a5_e42
001-57720_a5_em52
ORG
QUASI
Hasselt Bar
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e43
001-57720_a5_em53
DATETIME
QUASI
8 November 1981
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-57720_a5_e44
001-57720_a5_em54
DEM
QUASI
substitute district judge (juge de paix suppléant)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e45
001-57720_a5_em55
DATETIME
QUASI
12 April 1976
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e46
001-57720_a5_em56
DATETIME
QUASI
16 June 1981
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e47
001-57720_a5_em57
ORG
QUASI
Antwerp Court of Appeal
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e48
001-57720_a5_em58
DATETIME
QUASI
19 May 1982
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e49
001-57720_a5_em59
DATETIME
QUASI
six months’
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e50
001-57720_a5_em60
QUANTITY
QUASI
40,000 Belgian francs
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e51
001-57720_a5_em61
ORG
QUASI
Court of Cassation
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e47
001-57720_a5_em62
ORG
QUASI
Antwerp Court of Appeal
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e52
001-57720_a5_em63
DATETIME
QUASI
20 March 1984
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e51
001-57720_a5_em64
ORG
QUASI
Court of Cassation
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-57720_a5_e53
001-57720_a5_em65
PERSON
QUASI
Mr d’Haenens
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e54
001-57720_a5_em66
PERSON
QUASI
Mr Tillekaerts
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e55
001-57720_a5_em67
ORG
QUASI
Ghent Court of Appeal
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e56
001-57720_a5_em68
DATETIME
QUASI
14 November 1984
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e8
001-57720_a5_em69
PERSON
DIRECT
Mr Borgers
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e51
001-57720_a5_em70
ORG
QUASI
Court of Cassation
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e57
001-57720_a5_em71
DATETIME
QUASI
18 June 1985
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e53
001-57720_a5_em72
PERSON
QUASI
Mr d’Haenens
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-57720_a5_e54
001-57720_a5_em73
PERSON
QUASI
Mr Tillekaerts
André Borgers
BEL
CHAMBER
Task: Annotate the document to anonymise the following person: André Borgers