Montenegro’s parliament approves changes to the Criminal Code: illicit enrichment tied to public office becomes a criminal offense

Deputies of the Parliament of Montenegro unanimously approved the Bill on amendments and supplements to the Criminal Code, which introduces for the first time the criminal offense of illicit enrichment tied to the exercise of public office.

Under the law, a person who, while exercising public office, acquires, transfers or conceals assets clearly disproportionate to their legal income, with a value exceeding 50,000 euros, is punished with six months to five years in prison. If the value of the assets exceeds 100,000 euros, a harsher punishment is foreseen — from one to eight years in prison.

The Criminal Code also introduces the criminal offense of “aggravated hate”: anyone who publicly displays hatred toward a group or a member of a group on the basis of national or ethnic affiliation, race, religion, citizenship, political conviction, gender, language, skin color, sexual orientation or any other personal characteristic, in a manner that could lead to violence or incite hatred, is punished with three months to three years in prison — while if the offense is committed against a person performing work of public importance, the punishment is six months to five years in prison.

The amendments also provide for the non-prescription of criminal prosecution and execution of punishment for sexual abuse of children, the introduction of gender-motivated murder as the most serious form of murder, mandatory psycho-social treatment for perpetrators of criminal offenses with elements of violence, stronger criminal protection for journalists, doctors, education workers and others performing work of public importance, harsher punishments for attacks on health workers, as well as tightened punishments for unauthorized possession, carrying and production of weapons.

In the same session, deputies also approved the Bill on internal affairs, the one on judicial cooperation in criminal matters with EU member states, as well as a series of other laws.

Source: Vijesti