Ringier moves forward with verdict against Blick journalists
The Ringier media group does not accept the conviction of a Blick journalist by the District Court of Wil SG. It is taking the ruling to the St. Gallen Cantonal Court.
Riniger spokesman Edi Estermann confirmed a corresponding report in the Neue Zürcher Zeitung NZZ on Saturday. The district court had sentenced the journalist to a conditional fine of 60 daily rates on May 16. Two years ago, he had gotten a detective to obtain pictures from the police of two cab drivers accused of rape.
One of the pictures published in Blick showed a man who had been sentenced to five and a half years in prison in the meantime. The second photo showed his innocent brother. The single judge judged the procurement of the pictures as incitement to breach of official secrecy.
In the opinion of the Ringier Group, the Wiler decision could create a precedent. According to Estermann, any ""hard-researching journalist" would run the risk of criminal liability if he used more than official information. The Blick reporter had done his job to the best of his knowledge. (SDA)
