Balance leniency with justice

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CRIMINAL Law, the 9th set to be submitted for legislative review, will indeed help better protect citizens' rights. But they will almost certainly create confusion if they are passed as they are, and without proper elaboration.

Under the current Criminal Law, people who have "bought" abducted women or children could be exempted from punishment if they haven't prevented the women from returning to their original residence, and haven't mistreated the children or prevented them from being rescued. The proposed amendment criminalizes all such acts of "purchase".

For the first time in criminal legislation, the proposed amendment to Article 18 prescribes punishment for legal custodians who severely mistreat minors or senior citizens, or those with ailments or disabilities under their care.