Roche Tower Rises, along with labor controversy; Whiskey Insurance Scam Sends Man to Jail; BVB Adds to EuroAirport Bus Service; Speed Demons Arrested; Professional Baby Photographers Banned at Hospital

The Roche Tower under construction on the KleinBasel side of the Rhein will be the tallest building in Switzerland at its expected opening later this year.    For the time being however, it is proving to be a great headache to its developers.    According to the Swiss Television program "10 Vor 10" the wages of workers at the construction site are not only below their union negotiated rate, but also below the minimum wage allowed by Swiss Law.   It seems the German general contractor hired by Roche to do the facade work on the building, further subcontracted the work to a Polish company.    By utilizing the web of contractors, Roche was able to save nearly one million francs on the work, primarily because of the reduced wages required to pay the polish workers.    The union representing the affected workers claims 27 contractors were affected who claim to have regularly worked 12 hour days, 6 days a week.    In response to the Swiss Tv Program's reports, Roche claims its contractors are required to certify their compliance with swiss labor laws and to be registered with the local employment office.  In addition, they intend to investigate the allegations and review all of its contracts for construction.   Authorities have yet to comment.  

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We're all tempted to trump up an insurance claim when a personal item is lost, stolen or damaged.

The news this week was unfortunate for a 66 year old man who did just that.

Appearing before a civil court here in Basel, the man had submitted two claims which were determined to be false and criminally indictable.

It seems that after the man's apartment was burgled earlier this year, he claimed the theft of three bottles of Macallan Whiskey Vintage 1926 (one of the most prized in the world) and Professional Photography Equipment valued at 140,000 francs.

However, insurance adjusters and police investigators determined that the whiskey could not have been in the possession of the man since only 40 bottles were ever released in 1986 by the manufacturer...long after the man claimed to have come into possession of the booze in 1974.  In addition, his claims of loss regarding photographic equipment also did not jibe with the date of purchase and manufacture of the supposedly lost equipment.

Despite the man's protests to the court of never having lied or cheated, he was sentenced to 14 month's imprisonment.  the judge remarked "there is no verifiable information validating your claim, and constitutes fraud".

The attorneys of the defendant stated their intention to appeal the ruling.

 

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In response to increased holiday traffic the BVB, Basel's Public Transportation Operator announced its intention to add to its Bus service between the Airport and the SBB Train Station.

During the Period between July 5th and 26th of October, bus service on the weekends on the #50 line connecting the two transportation hubs will be effectively doubled.

In addition, special buses marked Euro Airport Non-Stop will offer stop-free service between the two endpoints.  

And for off-peak air and rail travelers, the #50 bus's service hours have also been extended during the holiday period, starting at 04:35 in the morning running all the way to 12:35 in the night.

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On Sunday evening Basel police established a traffic control checkpoint near the DreiRosenbrucke.

Not expecting to find traffic, or the police a 20 year old motorist, and new driver was caught racing his vehicle at 107km/h over the bridge.  

According to the police records released today, the young man's license was immediately taken and he was arrested by the police.  Also, because his speed exceeded the posted limit by more than 50 km/h it was referred to the Basel-Stadt prosecutor's office for criminal charges.

In addition, to this incident of speeding, 16 others were also cited for exceeding the speed limit the same Sunday evening.

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It seems hospital administrators at the Basel University Hospital have had it with professional photographers.

The German company Babysmile, popular with new and expectant families for providing photography services around the time of birth was told they're no longer allowed to work in the hospital's delivery ward.

Sabina Heuss, media spokesman for the hospital cited the impropriety of professional photographers working around exhausted and emotionally upset mothers.

However, it seems the photographers may in fact have overstepped their duty, often interfering with or delaying doctors to finish a photo shoot.

It now seems families will have to make their own baby delivery photos if they deliver at Basel's hospital.