Pascal Jaussi expresses regret before Fribourg court, acquittal sought
The founder of Swiss Space Systems faces 8 years' imprisonment for fraud. His lawyers have pleaded for more than ten hours for his complete acquittal.
S3 trial: Jaussi expresses regret, defence seeks acquittal
The founder of Swiss Space Systems (S3), Pascal Jaussi, expressed regret for the first time during the fourth and final day of his trial before the Fribourg Economic Criminal Court, reports Le Temps. The engineer, who faces 8 years' imprisonment—the sentence sought by the Public Prosecutor's Office—addressed the aggrieved clients directly during his final statement.
"I would never have trampled your dreams to achieve my own, I can only be sorry," Jaussi declared to the people who had purchased tickets for zero-gravity flights that never took place. He said he understood their disappointment and anger.
Throughout the day, the entrepreneur appeared with a closed expression and lowered head, taking notes—sometimes frantically—on a large notepad resting on his lap.
More than ten hours of argument
This final hearing was dominated by the defence's argument, begun the previous day and exceeding a total of ten hours. Me Mihaela Verlooven, assisted by two colleagues, delivered most of this marathon speech. The three lawyers focused on the financial aspects of the case, structuring their argument around a central line: "The failure of a dream is not a crime."
The defence fiercely denounced what it described as a deficient dossier from the Public Prosecutor's Office, whilst demanding the complete acquittal of their client. The Public Prosecutor's Office, for its part, maintained its fraud accusations.
A start-up born in Payerne
The case originates in March 2013, when Pascal Jaussi officially launches S3 in Payerne. The ambitious project aimed at placing minisatellites into orbit by means of a space shuttle attached to the back of a commercial airline. Tickets for zero-gravity flights had also been sold to clients as part of this entrepreneurial venture, flights that ultimately never took place.
Source: Le Temps