6.  The applicant was born in 1946 and lives in Gerasdorf-Seyring (Austria). 7.  On 2 October 1992 the Vienna Customs Office (Zollamt) opened investigations against a number of suspects under the Tax Offences Act (Finanzstrafgesetz) concerning charges of smuggling. Subsequently, these investigations were also directed against the applicant. 8.  On 30 September 1993 the Customs Office transmitted the final investigations report concerning the applicant and seven other suspects to the Vienna Public Prosecutor's Office (Staatsanwaltschaft). 9.  On 1 July 1999, after the investigating judge conducted further investigations, the Public Prosecutor preferred the indictment on charges of smuggling against the applicant and two co-accused. 10.  On 30 November 1999 the Vienna Regional Criminal Court acquitted the applicant. 11.  On 12 September 2000 the Supreme Court dismissed the pleas of nullity and the appeal against sentence. The decision was served on the applicant on 5 October 2000.