Mariana Nogales Molinelli, a spokeswoman for the Citizens’ Victory Movement in the House of Representatives, proposed a series of amendments to the Criminal Code so that government officials found guilty of corruption are forced to reinstate the state for the losses. .
Bill 482 would establish the penalty of restitution as mandatory in cases of illegal misappropriation of public funds or property, illegal use of credit or debit cards, illegal use of labor or public services, alteration or mutilation of property, unjustified influence, omission or negligence in the performance of duties and misappropriation of public funds, committed by public service employees in the performance of their duties.
“Currently, the judge is free to decide whether or not to impose the restitution penalty. This measure eliminates this discretion and establishes 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 undoubtedly a very serious and unfortunate consequence, but it does not repair the damage done to the treasury, nor does it seem to have been a sufficient deterrent for a Tata Charbonier, a Nelson Del Valle or a Julia Keleher. They need to know that if they got rich or illegally received benefits to the detriment of everyone, they will have to return what they stole or made us lose, ”the legislator said, adding that another amendment would clearly these crimes will 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 prosecuted, the feeling of impunity with which we have already seen them act will continue to prevail, no matter how severe the punishments. Therefore, we also propose amendments to the Law on the Comptroller’s Office in order to eliminate 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 accumulation representative assured that this project provides greater and better investigative and remuneration tools to the Public Ministry, which should give higher priority to the fight against corruption. “I have often asked what the priorities of the Department of Justice are in determining how it will use its limited resources. These days, the case of five student leaders has been reactivated, who now remain accused and accused of interrupting a meeting of the UPR Board of Directors almost four years ago. We hope that the Justice will do the same and give up the continuation of the extension of a process that was obviously politically motivated and that represents a serious attack on the free expression and association of students in the UPR “, said Nogales Molinelli.