ZAGREB, Dec 14 (Hina) - Amendments to the Penal Code will provide stronger protection to children and women from family violence, Deputy Justice Minister Ranko Marijan told parliament's House of Representatives on Thursday. The
amendments envisage the possibility that police press charges in instances of marriage rape, stronger penalties for indecent sexual acts on helpless people and minors, and irresponsible business conduct, which in cases of major financial damage to companies might last up to five years. Marijan said drug possession remained a criminal act and not an offence. The government abandoned the idea of decriminalising drug possession. During debate, all MPs applauded the amendments to the Penal Code, especially as it will provide better protection for the family. The lower house wrapped up debates on amendments to the Penal Code and the Bankruptcy Law, but did not vote due to lack of quorum. In deb
ZAGREB, Dec 14 (Hina) - Amendments to the Penal Code will provide
stronger protection to children and women from family violence,
Deputy Justice Minister Ranko Marijan told parliament's House of
Representatives on Thursday.
The amendments envisage the possibility that police press charges
in instances of marriage rape, stronger penalties for indecent
sexual acts on helpless people and minors, and irresponsible
business conduct, which in cases of major financial damage to
companies might last up to five years.
Marijan said drug possession remained a criminal act and not an
offence. The government abandoned the idea of decriminalising drug
possession.
During debate, all MPs applauded the amendments to the Penal Code,
especially as it will provide better protection for the family.
The lower house wrapped up debates on amendments to the Penal Code
and the Bankruptcy Law, but did not vote due to lack of quorum.
In debating amendments to the Bankruptcy Law, Milanka Opacic of the
Social Democratic Party said the law should ensure real instruments
under which workers might collect their claims, as banks and
creditors were the first to collect through mortgages and other
instruments. She also believes workers should be exempt from having
to pay court fees when bankruptcies are initiated.
Opacic said the bill did not clear the issue of prosecuting
fictitious bankruptcies, when owners deliberately indebted
companies.
Ante Markov of the Croatian Peasants' Party said the slowness and
inefficiency in bankruptcy proceedings should be solved by
increasing the responsibility of courts and bankruptcy trustees.
Tonci Tadic of the Croatian Party of Rights said workers' claims
should be protected with a special guarantee institution which
would ensure the payment of their claims.
The lower house continued the session by debating a police bill
which, according to Deputy Interior Minister Josip Vresk,
regulated the organisation of the ministry and the authorities of
the police.
The bill offers a detailed description of when the police may use
force.
Vresk said the police were a public service of the Interior
Ministry, and that the bill regulated the protection of people and
property according to standards of western democracy.
(hina) ha