Swiss man fined for nude hiking wins appeal against 'indecent behaviour'

London, May 29 (ANI): A Swiss man, who was fined for hiking in the nude, has won an appeal on the 100-franc he was asked to pay after a court decided the charge of "indecent behaviour" did not apply.

The 47-year-old man refused to pay the fine, imposed on him after a woman, who saw him, complained to the authorities about his "indecent behaviour".

He went to the court in eastern Switzerland's Appenzell Ausserrhoden canton to defend his right to hike naked.

The nudist's lawyer argued that his client was not behaving in an indecent manner, and that the woman must have followed him to observe his actions.

In addition, the lawyer noted that the canton's penal code did not prohibit hiking naked.

The hiker said he has been hiking nude over the past two years, and that he had always stuck to little used tracks, without any problems.

"We're not exhibitionists, we just want to be free," the Telegraph quoted the hiker's legal representative, who is also a nude hiker and who asked not to be named to protect his family members from harassment, as saying.

The court waived the fine on the nudist and instead ordered the state to cover legal costs of 2,000 francs.

Prosecutor Christian Boetschi says he has not decided whether to appeal the decision, and that the ruling should not be seen as giving blanket permission to hike nude in the area.

Hiking naked off busy trails is not a crime in Switzerland. But the unidentified hiker chose a path that passed a Christian rehabilitation centre and a woman reported him to police. (ANI)