BELGRADE, April 12 (Hina) - The Serbian parliament on Friday adopted changes to the criminal legislation extending the duration of police custody and introducing confiscation of property as a sentence, cumulative sentence, and new
definitions of criminal acts.
BELGRADE, April 12 (Hina) - The Serbian parliament on Friday
adopted changes to the criminal legislation extending the duration
of police custody and introducing confiscation of property as a
sentence, cumulative sentence, and new definitions of criminal
acts. #L#
Under changes to the law on the prevention of organised crime,
custody is extended to 30 i.e. 60 days, and if necessary, a special
prosecutor can order a person to remain in custody for three months,
while the Supreme Court can extend custody for three more months.
The amended law defines organised crime as groups of three of more
persons, which exist for a certain period of time and commit
criminal acts which are punished with prison sentences of four and
more years, as well as groups which are not organised to directly
commit criminal acts, but are in the function of organised crime.
Changes to the law on weapons and ammunition introduce longer
prison sentences for the illegal purchase, possession, production,
exchange or sale of firearms, ammunition or explosive materials.
Under changes to the Law on the High Judicial Council, the public
prosecutor is appointed by the Serbian parliament and nominated by
the government, while deputies are appointed by the government and
nominated by the justice ministry. The function of public
prosecutor is permanent, while deputies are appointed for a period
of eight years.
Changes to the Penal Code of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia -
which was renamed into the Basic Penal Code - and to the Serbian
Penal Code sharpen the penal policy. One of the changes is the
introduction of an additional sentence - confiscation of property
for criminal acts which contain the elements of organised crime -
while persons who commit a number of criminal acts face the
possibility of a cumulative sentence. The changes also introduce
definitions of crimes such as the forcible acquisition of human
organs or bodily parts, abuse of minors for pornography purposes
and computer crime, and increase sentences for abduction.
(hina) rml