Fine for man in hospital mystery
A man who left his terminally ill partner outside a hospital earlier this year has been given a suspended fine for helping her stay in the country illegally.
A judge in eastern Switzerland confirmed a report on the case in the local newspaper on Tuesday. Charges of abandoning the women were dropped, since it was clear the man wanted her to receive medical attention.
The case made headlines in Switzerland in April, when mystery surrounded the identity of the woman, who was too ill to speak.
It subsequently transpired that she was a Macedonian national, who had been living illegally in Switzerland for 19 years. She had worked as a cleaner, but because of her status she had no health insurance.
She was diagnosed with cancer at the end of 2008 and returned home, but later came back to her partner, also from Macedonia, who tried to look after her. It was only when she was no longer able to eat or speak that he left her outside the hospital, in the hope that she would get treatment there.
She died not long after being admitted.
The judge said her partner would probably be able to continue living in Switzerland, as he had no other convictions.
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