If passed, the draft changes to the Criminal Code will introduce a stricter penal policy, i.e. prison sentences between six months and 10 years for abuse of official position and authority, criminal association, and public procurement abuse.
The text has already been submitted to the legislative house and MPs. The key changes concern so-called high-profile cases, i.e. Article 353 (abuse of official position by officials), while there is a new, draft, paragraph incriminating public procurement abuse as well.
There is a change in the draft text of Article 353 in terms of gradation when it comes to the duration of the prison sentence depending on what type of act a perpetrator commits. That means that if an official person abuses office by inaction or overstepping authority without committing another crime, they will spend 0.5-3 years behind bars.
If they obtain a greater property gain and inflict greater damage, they will get a prison sentence of 1-5 years, while if it’s about a significant level of damage or property gain, the prison sentence will increase up to 8 years. Draft changes to Article 394 provide for a stricter penal policy when it comes to criminal association as well.
The longest sentences are foreseen in cases of public procurement abuse, i.e. a prison sentence of 4-10 years is provided for if, through such type of crime, a greater property gain is obtained or damage of big proportions is caused.