The government on Wednesday approved an amendment to the Penal Code that would reintroduce the three-strikes rule for petty theft. Under the proposal, repeat offenders would become criminally liable after three similar property offences committed within one year, facing a two-year prison sentence.
The amendment also changes the Distraint Code, allowing distraint offices to impose coercive measures to recover compensation for damage caused by a crime or misdemeanour.
The government has asked Parliament to debate the amendment in a fast-tracked procedure.
According to the explanatory report from the Justice Ministry, the measure aims to ease societal tensions and address demands from retailers and local authorities for tougher action against repeat offenders. It proposes reclassifying theft under Section 212 of the Penal Code and, following the principle of “three times is enough,” introducing criminal liability on the third repeated offence.
The government argues the changes respond to a rise in property crime and increased aggression, blaming the situation on media “disinformation campaigns” and political leaders who allegedly misled the public into thinking “theft is unpunishable and pays.”
The amendment is set to take effect upon its official announcement.
Source: TASR
