Facts
The case concerns an individual, P. [D.], accused of numerous offenses committed in several Swiss cantons, including Aargau, Zurich, Bern, Neuchâtel, Obwald, Vaud, Schaffhausen, and St. Gallen. The authorities of the canton of Vaud recognized their jurisdiction to judge these cases, but P. [D.] contested this decision, requesting that the authorities of the canton of Zurich or Aargau be declared competent.
The facts began in April 1989 and continued until June 1990. P. [D.] was arrested on October 15, 1990, in Zurich and placed in pre-trial detention in Stans due to a risk of recidivism. The authorities of the canton of Vaud opened an investigation, but P. [D.] requested that the authorities of the canton of Zurich or Aargau take over.
The authorities of the canton of Vaud recognized their jurisdiction on November 28, 1990, but P. [D.] contested this decision, arguing that the authorities of the canton of Zurich or Aargau were more competent to judge the cases.
Considerations
The decision of the Swiss Federal Court is based on Article 350 of the Swiss Criminal Code, which stipulates that the authorities of the place where the most severe penalty is incurred are competent to judge the other offenses. The Court examined the various offenses committed by P. [D.] and found that the authorities of the canton of Aargau were competent to judge the most serious offenses.
However, the Court also took into account the fact that P. [D.] had committed the majority of his offenses in the canton of Zurich and that the authorities of this canton were better placed to conduct the investigation and trial. The Court therefore decided to declare the authorities of the canton of Zurich competent to judge the…