Court clears environment protesters over stunt at Swiss bank

GENEVA (AP) - In a verdict that could resonate with environmentalists , a Swiss court ruled Monday in favor of a dozen young activists who stormed into the office of a Credit Suisse bank in a peaceful protest against its investments in fossil fuels that has ensnared the bank's brand ambassador, Roger Federer.

The court in the Lausanne suburb of Renens cleared the activists who were arrested and ordered to pay fines over their November 2018 stunt in which they donned tennis outfits and whacked balls at a Credit Suisse branch in the city, riffing off Federer's role with the bank.

The case went to trial because the defendants refused to pay fines linked to charges like protesting without a permit and resisting police.

Emotions ran high as judge Philippe Colelough read his verdict that backed the activists' argument that burning of fossil fuels constituted a 'œcurrent and concrete'ť threat to the planet.

Laila Batou, a lawyer for one of the defendants, said the judge accepted that the activists had exhausted all other legitimate forms of protest like petition drives, sidewalk demonstrations, and efforts with Swiss lawmakers.

'œThe lawyers, the clients, the audience cried," Batou said. She said the "bombshell" from the judge was his recognition that the threat of climate change was "impossible" to block through other legal means.

The activists with Lausanne Climate Action say Credit Suisse is one of the world's biggest investors in fossil fuels, making available more than $7.8 billion to nearly four dozen companies that are said to be 'œextreme'ť users of dirty fossil fuels. They say that the bank increased its financing for coal 16-fold from 2016 to 2017.

During last week's proceedings, at least one of the activists - all aged 25 or younger - expressed despair about the state of the world and the lack of a desire to have children in it, Batou said.

Credit Suisse said in a statement that it 'œtakes note of the verdict and will analyze it.'ť The bank has previously argued that it could not tolerate 'œunlawful attacks'ť on its branches, while voicing its respect for "freedom of expression as a fundamental democratic right.'ť

Credit Suisse has said that 'œin the context of its global climate strategy that it will no longer invest in new coal-fired power plants.'ť

Batou, the defense lawyer, cautioned that the verdict didn't amount to a 'œblank check for action against all banks.'ť

'œIf there was one chance to get an acquittal ... it was in this one,'ť she said . The protest, she added, was 'œreally well-designed and thought-through.'ť

The activists are urging Federer, undoubtedly the most famous Swiss sports figure of all time, to pressure the Zurich-based bank or even cut ties to it.

'œIf we get him to distance himself from the bank, we will empower our action,'ť Batou said.