SkopjeDiem Macedonia in English
The infamous Article 353, instead of concerning abuse of official position, will in the future pertain to cultural heritage. In the latest Draft-Criminal Code obtained by Kanal 5, the act is regulated in Article 460.
Paragraph 1 of the Article, which describes the act, remains the same, as does the length of the prison sentence, 6 to 36 months, as in the case with the situation prior to and after the last Code changes. Paragraph 5, which concerns financial damage to the state Budget or to those of local self-government units, erased in the last changes, is being reintroduced. A sentence of at least four years is provided for.
The crime of public procurement abuse is being introduced. A sentence from 6 months to 5 years is provided for against a responsible person that will not publish a tender, will sign an unlawful contract or make changes over the duration of the contract beyond the law, and favour a certain company regarding criteria. The last Code changes saw sentences for criminal association significantly reduced. But now, the working group is proposing for the previous sentences to be reintroduced – up to 10 instead of up to 3 years in prison.
