RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

The Penitentiary System and Extended Confiscation

Justice Minister Raluca Pruna hopes to get Parliaments support for the draft law on the extended confiscation of assets obtained by means of misappropriation fraud.

The Penitentiary System and Extended Confiscation
The Penitentiary System and Extended Confiscation

, 16.09.2016, 14:30

October 4th is the deadline for the EU member countries to transpose into national law the directive that provides for the extended confiscation of assets obtained fraudulently. In Romania, the emergency triggered by the deadline set in Brussels coincides with fierce domestic debates on the effects of the fight against corruption. For a long time now, the media, civil society and experts have warned that indicting, arresting and even sentencing top level corruption is worthless, unless it is followed by a recovery of the losses caused by fraud.



The Justice Minister Raluca Pruna has announced on Radio Romania that a draft law on this matter already exists, and will be submitted to Parliament for endorsement. She has not ruled out the possibility of issuing an emergency ordinance, but has voiced hope that, provided senators and deputies work fast, such a measure won’t be necessary. “The current legislation already stipulates extended confiscation as a potential measure. Unfortunately, it has not been very much used in the cases tried so far, and what we are doing now by means of this draft is to fully transpose the directive”, the minister also said.



The conviction rate in cases of corruption stands at 90%, which, according to the National Anticorruption Directorate, is proof of the quality of the evidence that criminal cases are built on, as well as of prosecutors’ professionalism. On the other hand, though, the head of the Directorate, Laura Codruta Kovesi, has recently stated that, following the final rulings issued last year alone, the state must recover some 200 million Euro and insisted on the importance of these sentences to be fully served, including by recovering the damages and losses caused by corruption. “Some of those sentenced do not fully serve the sentence decided by judges. Some are released on parole, without any recovery of damage, or due to administrative loopholes. Such cases gradually lead to the situation in which the state loses authority and people lose their trust in state institutions, Mrs. Kovesi has warned.


The Justice Minister Raluca Pruna has stated that, when it comes to economic crimes, more discouraging is to confiscate the object of the crime rather than serving a sentence that, generally speaking, in Romania and actually elsewhere in the world, is a lesser punishment than for common law offences. She has also said that the full transposition of the European Directive could be a solution for the overcrowding of the domestic penitentiary system.



This summer, inmates protested loudly against prison conditions. Also, the employees in the system say that their workload is too big and salaries too small, and refuse to do any overtime, which could block activity in prisons, because of staff shortage. The National Administration of Penitentiaries in Romania has 15,000 jobs, covered by only 12,000 people, while the real need stands at some 20,000.



(Translated by Mihaela Ignatescu)


Signing of the protocol (foto:
Today in the News Friday, 22 November 2024

Transition program towards F-35, launched

The Romanian Air Force’s transition program to 5th generation aircraft has been launched.   Romania’s decision to acquire advanced fighter...

Transition program towards F-35, launched
Energy (foto: EdWhiteImages / pixabay.com)
Today in the News Friday, 22 November 2024

The National Energy Strategy, adopted

Using local resources, reducing imports and making massive investments in production capacity are important elements of the new National Energy...

The National Energy Strategy, adopted
European Commission (photo: © European Union - Source: EC - Audiovisual Service / Photographer: Christophe Licoppe)
Today in the News Thursday, 21 November 2024

Political agreement on the new European Commission

    The leaders of the three major political groups in the European Parliament have given the green light to the members of the next...

Political agreement on the new European Commission
Photo: aep.ro
Today in the News Thursday, 21 November 2024

13 for Romania

    In Romania, presidential elections usually spark the greatest interest and emotions. Even more so this year, when the two rounds of the...

13 for Romania
Today in the News Wednesday, 20 November 2024

Romania’s natural gas, available for trading

On Tuesday, the Romanian company Romgaz launched its first issue of bonds on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, worth 500 million EUR. Romgaz is the...

Romania’s natural gas, available for trading
Today in the News Tuesday, 19 November 2024

Romania ahead of the presidential election

Next month, President Klaus Iohannis will end his second and last five-year term in office according to the Romanian Constitution. The so-called...

Romania ahead of the presidential election
Today in the News Tuesday, 19 November 2024

Romania’s Prime Minister on a visit to Brussels

NATO welcomes Romania’s continuous efforts and its significant contribution to strengthening the Alliance and Euro-Atlantic security, NATO...

Romania’s Prime Minister on a visit to Brussels
Today in the News Monday, 18 November 2024

Downward forecast from the European Commission

Romania’s economic growth estimate has been recalculated by the European Commission (EC), at a value well below the initially established...

Downward forecast from the European Commission

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company