Justice Ministry Open to Debate on Adjusting Penalties for Petty Crime

Bratislava, 29 October (TASR) – The Justice Ministry is prepared to engage in a discussion on the issue of petty crime, including possible adjustments to penalties for repeat offenders, but it doesn't plan a full return to the so-called 'Horalky clause' [a 'three strikes and you're out' principle — ed.note], as it's seeking a fair and effective solution instead, Justice Minister Boris Susko (Smer-SD) stated on social media on Wednesday. "The topic of petty crime has been the subject of a massive opposition campaign for more than a year, which has significantly contributed to the perception among the public that there has been a rise in crime. This campaign is built on falsehood, as confirmed by statistics, and deliberately creates the impression that the amendment to the Criminal Code made it impossible to to punish people for several acts or removed criminality. That isn't true," he stated. Susko said that he's closely following the discussion on recidivism in cases of minor property offences. "Just as with retailers who warned us about increasing aggression in shops, we immediately set up a working group in cooperation with the Interior Ministry and the Police Corps. This group introduced specific measures to improve the situation in practice," he stated. He also praised those who discuss the issue factually and professionally but expressed regret that some media and local government representatives continue to spread misinformation. Susko described the abolished so-called 'Horalky clause' as a legitimate subject of discussion but claimed that the proposal to abolish it appeared during the government of Ludovit Odor. "In our draft amendment to the Criminal Code, the abolition of this provision was not included at all ... We only adopted the wording — and supplemented it during the second reading after general agreement — that had been prepared and promoted by the previous government. And precisely those opposition politicians who voted at that time to abolish the so-called 'Horalky clause' are now organising campaigns under the slogan 'It pays to steal'," he said, calling the opposition's actions hypocritical. On Tuesday (28 October), Prosecutor-General Maros Zilinka also criticised the abolition of the so-called 'Horalky clause', calling it the most serious mistake from the perspective of protecting society from offenders who repeatedly commit petty theft. mf/df