A criminal case is a report registered with the public prosecutor’s office, with the aim that it be brought to trial. In principle a criminal case is filed against one suspect. The public prosecutor’s office has a right to prosecute, but it is not obliged to do so. The public prosecutor’s office can handle the case itself in a number of ways. One frequently used measure is a settlement under certain conditions. The most common condition to prevent further prosecution is to pay a fine or do some form of community service. Alternatively, the public prosecutor can dismiss a case, add it to another case or refer it to another public prosecutor. If the case is referred to a judge, the judge pronounces the verdict.
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