Politics · Switzerland · 16 hrs ago
Swiss court upholds dismissal of army sergeant after drunk-driving conviction
A Swiss army sergeant was dismissed after a drunk-driving conviction.
He was stopped while driving a civilian car in April 2024, with a blood alcohol level of 1.72 per mille.
His licence was taken away for four months, and he received a suspended financial penalty.
The Defence Department suspended him and later ended his employment, saying his conduct conflicted with the duties of loyalty and example expected of him.
The sergeant appealed, pointing to more than 25 years of service, no prior convictions and no earlier alcohol-related concerns.
The Federal Administrative Court rejected his appeal, finding his blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit and that his conduct could undermine trust in him.
The court said the offence risked endangering others and harming the army’s reputation, so the dismissal stands.
Switzerland’s Federal Administrative Court upheld the dismissal of an army sergeant convicted of drunk driving.
The sergeant was stopped while driving a civilian vehicle in April 2024 with a blood alcohol concentration of 1.72 per mille.
The court said the serious road traffic violation could undermine trust in him and was incompatible with his duty of loyalty.
The sergeant had argued that he had served in the army for 25 years without prior convictions or alcohol-related reports.
- Who
- An army sergeant employed by the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport.
- What
- The Federal Administrative Court rejected his appeal against his dismissal.
- When
- The court’s ruling was dated 12 October 2026 and published on 29 October 2026. He was stopped in April 2024.
- Where
- Switzerland. The sergeant was stopped while driving a civilian vehicle; the stop’s location is not stated.
- Why
- The court said his serious drunk-driving offence could undermine trust and was incompatible with his duty of loyalty.
The army and Federal Administrative Court
The dismissed sergeant
Dismissal
The army and Federal Administrative Court
The court said the offence was incompatible with his duties of loyalty and example, and upheld the dismissal.
The dismissed sergeant
He appealed the dismissal, citing 25 years of exemplary service, no prior convictions and no earlier alcohol-related reports.
Risk and trust
The army and Federal Administrative Court
The court said his conduct risked endangering others and could have brought the army into disrepute.
The dismissed sergeant
Not stated.
The sergeant was stopped at about 2 a.m. while driving a civilian vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 1.72 per mille.
He was convicted of qualified drunk driving, given a suspended monetary penalty and had his driving licence withdrawn for four months.
The defence department notified him of his dismissal effective at the end of August and suspended him from duty immediately.
The Federal Administrative Court issued its ruling rejecting his appeal.
The ruling was published.
- Blood alcohol concentration
- 1.72 per mille
- Licence withdrawal
- Four months
- Dismissal
- Notified in February 2025, effective at the end of August
- Court
- Federal Administrative Court
- Ruling
- A-2050/2025, dated 12 October 2026
What people are saying
the established blood alcohol concentration was more than twice the permitted limit