ZAGREB, Oct 31 (Hina) - Replacing imprisonment of long duration with life sentence, extending deadlines for the statute of limitations, defining as criminal acts the humiliation of the President of the Republic and glorification of
former fascist states and organisations are some of the most important changes to the Penal Code which the government forwarded to parliament at a session on Thursday.
ZAGREB, Oct 31 (Hina) - Replacing imprisonment of long duration
with life sentence, extending deadlines for the statute of
limitations, defining as criminal acts the humiliation of the
President of the Republic and glorification of former fascist
states and organisations are some of the most important changes to
the Penal Code which the government forwarded to parliament at a
session on Thursday. #L#
The government has suggested that prison sentences of 20, 30 and 40
years be replaced with the life sentence as the most severe
punishment, Justice Minister Ingrid Anticevic Marinovic said.
The life sentence will refer to some 20 criminal acts, including
grave murders, war crimes, international terrorism, hijacking of
planes or ships, etc.
Changes to the Penal Code would also include the extension of
deadlines for the statute of limitations.
The current practice has shown that deadlines for the statute of
limitations are too short. Along with this, the government has also
suggested extending deadlines for the execution of sentences.
This, the minister believes, will reduce the frequent practice of
convicts who stay outside the country waiting for the statute of
limitations to take effect.
The government has also suggested expanding the definition of the
criminal act of tarnishing the reputation of the Republic of
Croatia and humiliating its president. Protecting foreign heads of
state from being exposed to humiliation and not doing the same for
one's own president is not justified, Anticevic Marinovic said.
Such acts could be punished with prison sentences ranging from
three months to three years. The same sentences would be applied for
the glorification of former fascist states and organisations.
The changes to the Penal Code introduce stricter sentences for
assaults on official persons, such as policemen, as well as for
grave thefts, etc.
The changes also envisage the decriminalisation of drug
possession.
Deputy Prime Minister Goran Granic suggested the debate on changes
to the Penal Code be used as an introduction into a debate on
defining the term 'command responsibility', which was backed by
Prime Minister Ivica Racan.
"We have to be able to sanction war crimes in all their complexity,"
Racan said.
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