New Penal Code: Officials that have been corrupt, 10 years out of public office

Justice Minister Abelard Tahiri has held today a press conference where he has presented the changes made to the new Penal Code.

According to Minister Tahiri, the drafting of the new code is based on three fundamental principles: the clear definition of literal rule of law and the fight against corruption and organised crime; the greatest flexibility in the work of independent law enforcement bodies; and protection, promotion and advance of the notion of human rights.

In articles that define stronger war on corruption and organised crime, Minister Tahiri has indicated that provisions from smuggling to fraud and production of harmful products have been changed, as well as redefining criminal acts of corruption, misusing office or official authority, taking bribes, cheating in office, etc. According to Minister Tahiri, these changes provided a powerful response to the requirements for preventing corrupt actions at the level of exercise of official office.

“Plans for criminal acts that are related to corruption, where anyone who has the potential have increased and have become quantum rather than alternative. These measures are our concrete commitment to protecting the integrity of our institutions and to prevent and fight corruption consistently and uncompetitively” has said Tahiri.

Even the initial amendments with the concept of the document for suspension of public officials in the event of the establishment of corruption charges have been included in this Hill.

Subsequently, new amendments have been proposed that prohibit the official person from exercising office in public administration or in public service up to 10 years from a conviction act. This provision envisions that when the public official is convicted of criminal corruption, he is prohibited from exercising office in public service until ten years” has said minister Tahiri.

At the conference, Minister Tahiri has indicated that in the change of over 100 articles, over 180 members of thematic groups and sub-groups are involved, by large consortiums of civil society, media, international human rights institutions, in a transparent and democratic process for drafting this bill, which is one of the most important legislative ones drafted by the Ministry of Justice.