Not of a crime...if the German government intended to prosecute the tax-evaders as suspects of a crime, the evidence would be inadmissible. It can, however, be used to prove that they still owe the government taxes.
"If it wears trousers generally I don't pay attention."
[IMG]https://img197.imageshack.us/img197/4917/logoromans23pd.jpg[/IMG]
I'd be for getting it, but payment would be very much dependant on results. If those that evade taxes fear that they might be found, less will do so. Assuming that there are hefty fines for getting caught, this will have payoffs down the line too.
![]()
An enemy that wishes to die for their country is the best sort to face - you both have the same aim in mind.
Science flies you to the moon, religion flies you into buildings.
"If you can't trust the local kleptocrat whom you installed by force and prop up with billions of annual dollars, who can you trust?" Lemur
If you're not a liberal when you're 25, you have no heart. If you're not a conservative by the time you're 35, you have no brain.
The best argument against democracy is a five minute talk with the average voter. Winston Churchill
It's wrong, and I'm against it. The government has rules they must follow to obtain evidence. To bypass those rules is to take people's rights away. Paying a thief to get info the government couldn't is using a contractor to bypass the laws put in place to protect the rights of citizens, and therefore destroys those rights.
CR
Ja Mata, Tosa.
The poorest man may in his cottage bid defiance to all the forces of the Crown. It may be frail; its roof may shake; the wind may blow through it; the storm may enter; the rain may enter; but the King of England cannot enter – all his force dares not cross the threshold of the ruined tenement! - William Pitt the Elder
Wouldn't that also apply if the thief gave the information for free as well? As he have broken company policy and probably a contract or two as well? I wouldn't approve of it benig used as the only evidence, but it could be used to find legally obtained evidence to use.
Tough one. I would go with accepting it on the basis that exposing crimes should be rewarded, but it should be heavily depended on the quality of the information mainly since it still gives me a sour taste and to try to prevent attemts to abuse it.
We are all aware that the senses can be deceived, the eyes fooled. But how can we be sure our senses are not being deceived at any particular time, or even all the time? Might I just be a brain in a tank somewhere, tricked all my life into believing in the events of this world by some insane computer? And does my life gain or lose meaning based on my reaction to such solipsism?
Project PYRRHO, Specimen 46, Vat 7
Activity Recorded M.Y. 2302.22467
TERMINATION OF SPECIMEN ADVISED
That would be a different situation. There's no intent on the government's part to evade restrictions on evidence gathering in your scenario, they just luckily stumble on it.
In the current, real life scenario, the German government would basically evade all rules on how to acquire evidence by simply buying it from a third party who isn't bound by said rules. Crazed Rabbit is right, it might not be against the letter of the law but it's certainly agains the spirit. OTOH a tax debt is not a "punishment", criminal law doesn't come into play until they decide to prosecute you for deliberately evading taxes.
Well, my point was that the relevant government agency should have arrested the thief for trying to sell illegally obtained information, and then used the information. They shouldn't have considered "buying it", however they could offer to buy it (lie to the thief in order to get him to incriminate himself for himself).
Yes, I have no problem with entrapment.
"If it wears trousers generally I don't pay attention."
[IMG]https://img197.imageshack.us/img197/4917/logoromans23pd.jpg[/IMG]
Other media (Reuters) have picked up the story. Reportedly, the Swiss gov't likens Germany's purchase of the data as "bank robbery".
Be well. Do good. Keep in touch.
Bookmarks