Facts
The appellant [A.] was charged by the Public Prosecutor's Office II of the Canton of Zurich for the importation and trafficking of heroin. In parallel, the Public Prosecutor's Office conducted separate criminal proceedings against other persons who were accused of having purchased large quantities of heroin from the appellant or supplied him with drugs. The appellant repeatedly requested the joinder of his criminal investigation with the proceedings against the co-accused, but the Public Prosecutor's Office did not formally address this. Thereupon, the appellant filed a complaint about the delay of justice and denial of justice with the High Court, which was dismissed. The appellant then appealed to the Federal Supreme Court.Considerations
The Federal Supreme Court concluded that the Public Prosecutor's Office had violated the principle of expedited proceedings by not issuing a reasoned appealable interim decision on the question of the joinder of proceedings or access to files for over a year. Although the appellant had repeatedly requested the joinder of the proceedings, the Public Prosecutor's Office did not formally justify the rejection. The Federal Supreme Court held that in the case of alleged co-perpetration or participation, the principle of procedural unity…