I. General

1 Art. 331 SCC protects the legal interest of national defense. On the one hand, the uniform has a representative function: "The uniform is an expression of belonging to the army. [...]" (Art. 58 para. 1 Service Regulations of the Armed Forces). The idea of state representation is thus also reflected in the permit requirement for wearing foreign military uniforms in Switzerland and Swiss military uniforms abroad (Ordinance on the Wearing of Foreign Uniforms in Switzerland and Swiss Military Uniforms Abroad, SR 125).

2 On the other hand, the uniform has a distinguishing function between civilian and military persons and thus justifies the presumption that the latter are legitimized to perform sovereign acts. Furthermore, in international armed conflict, the uniform serves as a distinguishing feature between protected persons and combatants (cf. Art. 44, no. 3, Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and Relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts, Protocol I). Here, too, it is an indication of being able to participate lawfully in hostilities and to claim prisoner-of-war status.

3 Finally, the criminal offense is intended to ensure the constant readiness of the material serving the armed forces. One objection to this is that the offense is tailored to non-conscripts. It is difficult to imagine that uniformed non-conscripts could effectively jeopardize the operational readiness of the armed forces.

4 According to Art. 23 para. 1 lit. k CrimPC, Art. 331 SCC is subject to federal jurisdiction.

II. Objective facts

A. The uniform of the Swiss Army

5 The term "army uniform" is to be interpreted broadly, as the French and Italian versions show ("l'uniform de l'armée" / "l'uniforme dell'esercito svizzero"). The facts include all official tenus of the Swiss Army (Army and Air Force). The uniform can be genuine or imitation. Thus, according to the opinion represented here, uniforms that are not in service also fall within the scope of application as long as they strongly resemble the current one. Uniforms with a clear historical reference, however, are excluded.

6 With regard to the protected legal interest, not all uniform components (belt, T-shirt, etc.) fall under the protection of criminal law. The overall appearance of the perpetrator and the reference to the Swiss army generated by it are likely to be decisive. This applies to the initial uniform and regularly to uniform components with camouflage print. The latter may not be given to departing members of the armed forces as property (Art. 27 para. 1 lit. b Ordinance on the Personal Equipment of Members of the Armed Forces, VPAA, SR 514.10).

B. Unauthorized carrying

7 Service members are in principle prohibited from using the uniform for private purposes (Art. 114 para. 4 Military Act, MG, SR 510.10). Art. 21 VPAA regulates the exceptions and mentions, for example, participation in off-duty activities of military societies, military sports activities, employees of the Defense Group, political events (lit. a-c) and with the approval of the Defense Group: Officers' balls, historical parades and events, fairs, weddings and funeral ceremonies (lit. d).

8 For non-civil servants, there is no such general permission as in Art. 21 para. 1 lit. a-c VPAA. They must always obtain prior permission for use, e.g. for filming or theater performances.

9 In order to fulfill this requirement, the uniform must be worn and perceived by the public. This requirement can also be fulfilled in the digital space. Wearing the uniform in private, on the other hand, does not affect the protected legal interest and is not punishable.

III. Subjective elements of the offense

10 The elements of the offense can only be committed intentionally, whereby contingent intent is sufficient.

IV. Personal scope of application and limits of jurisdiction

11 Art. 331 SCC is not a special offense. However, insofar as the perpetrator is subject to military jurisdiction, the provisions of the MStG take precedence over Art. 331 SCC (Art. 9 para. 1 SCC). Specifically, service members are liable to prosecution for the misuse of army material by wearing their personal uniform or those of other Swiss army members without authorization (Art. 73 no. 1 MStG). In this case, the service members are subject to military jurisdiction both on and off duty (Art. 3 para. 1 no. 1 and 4 MStG).

12 The unauthorized wearing of the uniform may be considered as prohibited insidiousness in an international armed conflict (Art. 37 no. 1 Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts, SR 0.518.521, and Art. 23 lit. f Convention relating to the Laws and Customs of Land Warfare, SR 0.515.112). Art. 264g para. 1 lit. d SCC and Art. 112c para. d MStG each take precedence over Art. 331 SCC as lex specialis.

13 If the perpetrator performs an (unauthorized) official act while wearing the uniform without authorization, Art. 287 SCC takes precedence insofar as the perpetrator did not give other persons the impression that he or she was authorized to perform the official act by wearing the uniform.

14 In view of the personal scope of application, Art. 331 SCC has no great practical significance, which is why its deletion was considered. However, it seems justified to criminalize unauthorized carrying equally by both those on duty and those not on duty.

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