The spokeswoman for the Victory Citizen Movement in the House of Representatives, Mariana Nogales Molinelli, proposed a series of amendments to the Penal Code so that government officials found guilty of corruption offenses are forced to return to the ‘State for losses caused by its illegal actions.
The Bill 482 Project would establish the penalty of restitution as mandatory in cases of illegal appropriation of funds or public property, illegal use of credit or debit cards, illicit use of public works or services, alteration or mutilation of property, undue influence, omission or negligence in the performance of the duty and misappropriation of public funds, committed by employees of the public service in the performance of their duties.
“Currently, the judge has discretion to determine whether or not to impose the penalty of restitution. With this measure we are eliminating this discretion and establishing that in cases of corruption, the convicted person must return to the government and the country what he stole or misused.The potential loss of liberty is certainly a very serious and unfortunate consequence but it does not repair the damage done to the taxman nor does it appear to have been a sufficient deterrent to a Tata Charbonier, 1 Nelson De la Vall or a Júlia Keleher. They need to know that if they got rich or received benefits illegally at the expense of all of us, they will have to return what they stole or made us lose, “said the legislator, who added that another of the amendments would clearly state that such offenses do not prescribe.
Nogales Molinelli acknowledged that changes are also needed to eradicate impunity and facilitate the investigation and prosecution of corruption cases. “We know that if these crimes are rarely investigated or brought to court, the sense of impunity with which we have already seen them act will continue to reign, regardless of how serious the penalties are. That is why we are also proposing amendments. to the Comptroller’s Office Act to remove any automatic criminal immunity and to make it mandatory to publish the names of the persons involved in the comptroller’s reports, “he explained.
The representative by accumulation has assured that this project provides greater and better investigative and retributive tools to him to the Public Ministry, which must give more priority to fight the corruption. “We have often questioned what the Justice Department’s priorities are in determining how it will use its limited resources. These days, the case of five student leaders who are now charged with interrupting a meeting has been reactivated. We hope that Justice will do the same and give up continuing to extend a process that was obviously politically motivated and that represents a serious attack on the free expression and association of students of the UPR. the UPR, “said Nogales Molinelli.