The Justice Ministry's recent amendments and proposals for the criminal code soften punishments for serious crimes and make it harder to investigate corruption and organized crime, said MP Daniel Lipšic of the Christian Democrat Party.
Lipšic was Slovakia’s justice minister from 2002-2006.
According to Lipšic, the ministry is reducing sentences for such crimes as murder, rape and abuse, and also making it easier to get released on parole.
In addition, the proposal scraps objective rules for giving sentence, limits the usage of the “three strikes and you're out” rule, and does not recognize the status of an 'agent provocateur’, said Lipšic, adding that scrapping the possibility to make use of a substitute lawyer will slow down trials.
According to Michal Jurči, the ministry spokesman, the proposal maintains the rules for consecutive sentences, and limits the “three strikes and you're out” principle only for most serious crimes.
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
