There are people who lead rather hectic double lives. This 31-year-old man worked as a lecturer at a Hochschule in the Zurich region. That was the side of him that was visible to the outside world. The other side was revealed this week to the court in Dietikon, which sentenced him in absentia – for the second time without him appearing in court – to one year’s imprisonment, suspended.
The insurance matter is worth recounting. In 2024, he rang Zurich Insurance and told them that electric bikes had been stolen from his home. He attached purchase contracts – which he had forged himself – for 8,000 and 12,000 francs. The company suspected something was amiss and refused to pay. Helvetia had been less vigilant: it had paid him 6,200 and 8,800 francs for equally non-existent bicycles in previous years. Total received: around 15,000 francs. Failed attempt with Zurich: a further 20,000.
On top of all that, there were two counts of hooliganism at the Letzigrund during FCZ matches, involving a lit torch in the stands and a covered face despite the ban. He already had two previous convictions for separate offences.
The judge did not beat about the bush: the remorse expressed during the preliminary hearing “will not work in his favour, given that he has failed to appear”. Four thousand francs in costs, a 400-franc fine, and a twelve-month suspended sentence. The most striking aspect of the case: it was not a public body that uncovered the fraud. It was the private insurance company that scrutinised the paperwork more closely than he had anticipated. That’s how things work here.