Swiss woman fined for racist abuse and littering after neighbour feud

A 77-year-old woman from Pfäffikon SZ has been fined for repeated verbal abuse and littering after targeting her female neighbours. The supreme court ruled against her following a series of offensive messages and waste being thrown into their garden. The penalties include a conditional fine, a direct fine, and compensation for procedural costs.

The dispute began in 2024 when the woman left a handwritten note outside an elderly couple's door. The note contained insults, describing one neighbour as an 'old white mentally disturbed man' and another as 'the Spanish conceited saleswoman'. It also referred to a third neighbour as 'the cheap loud yelling from the English-speaking, non-integrated IT consultant'.

In March 2025, she sent further emails with racist remarks. She called the neighbours a 'slum backpack', a 'little Columbian', and an 'IT consultant' who should leave Switzerland. The couple eventually filed a complaint, though a separate defamation claim was dismissed for being submitted too late.

The court found her guilty of littering after she repeatedly threw waste into the couple's garden. Items included packaging, drinks bottles, and other rubbish. The prosecution, however, did not find evidence of racial discrimination in the case.

The woman received a conditional fine of 30 daily rates at 50 francs each, suspended for three years. She must also pay a 570-franc fine, with ten days' imprisonment if unpaid, plus procedural costs of 1,500 francs. The total penalty amounts to 2,073 francs, with the order legally binding.

The ruling requires the woman to comply with the fines and probation terms. The case highlights the legal consequences of sustained harassment and littering. The court's decision is final, with no further appeals possible.