Criminal law

A question of priority at the wheel of a car "I was driving on the Swiss road towards Geneva when the right-hand lane I was in came to an end, forcing me to turn left. Some cars had anticipated this measure very early on, forming a long queue, whereas I preferred to stay in my lane and...

What's the difference between defamation and slander? "If I've understood your last column correctly, when someone says I'm dishonest to another person, I can feel insulted because my honesty is being questioned or even judged. What rights do I have in relation to the person making the comment? Myriam, Bernex...

What Criminal Code and what penalties for teenagers " In Switzerland, can a teenager who commits an offence go to prison? Will they have a criminal record as an adult? Ken There is a federal law governing the criminal status of minors, which provides for specific penalties applicable to young people aged 10...

When can I access the criminal file? "Someone lodged a complaint against me. Before my first hearing with the Public Prosecutor's Office, I asked to see the file, but I was refused! Who can have access to this file and when? Alexis, Bellevue As part of the...

When I lend my car to a relative " I want to leave my car with my grandson during my holidays abroad. However, a friend told me that I would still be civilly liable in the event of an accident. Is this true?" Ani, Versoix The law on road traffic includes a section on the civil liability of the owner of a...

Can I check her mailbox? I've just stumbled across my soon-to-be ex-girlfriend's password for her e-mail in a notebook she left at my place after her last visit, which ended in an ugly row. I really want to go and check her emails to make sure she hasn't...

Civil and criminal claims There is a traditional distinction between civil law - which allows a natural or legal person to obtain a financial or material benefit from another person - and criminal law, which aims to punish behaviour that is contrary to an established rule of life in society. At first glance, therefore,...

Is there such a thing as undercover police officers? In action films, we often see police officers using false identities to infiltrate crime scenes and trap suspects. Is this possible in Switzerland? "S, Geneva Swiss law does indeed provide for a range of measures enabling the authorities to...

Poker: are our games legal? "My friends and I like to organise small poker games. We sometimes invite people we know to take part in our games, but some of us claim that this is against the law. Is this true? Philippe The federal law on...