SaS Slams Gov't for Failure to Find Comprehensive Solution to Petty Theft

Bratislava, 20 November (TASR) - Opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party representatives at a news conference on Thursday criticised the government for its failure to come up with a comprehensive solution to the petty theft issue, once again calling on Justice Minister Boris Susko (Smer-SD) to present one. The party believes that the current situation regarding the increased crime rate has been caused by the government amendment to the Penal Code. "What the minister brought to the government session on Wednesday [19 November] was a partial admission of error, but it's only a partial solution ... It's a mockery, and it's evident that he doesn't really want to fight crime, devoting his time and capacity only to serving the interests of this government instead," stated MP Maria Kolikova (SaS). She also criticised the government for not addressing the issue of tax fraud. She thinks that the cabinet has given up on fighting crime. Meanwhile, SaS leader and MP Branislav Groehling spoke about the crisis within the governing coalition. "The governing coalition is in crisis again, but why? It's because they are dealing with their own deals, business, posts and ministerial seats," he said. Groehling is therefore concerned about how the parliamentary session due to begin on 25 November will proceed in this situation. The government approved an amendment to the Penal Code on Wednesday. The three-strikes rule should be reintroduced for petty theft, with repeat offenders becoming criminally liable in the case of repeated thefts. Offenders should be sent to prison for two years after committing a similar offence against property three times within one year, regardless of the sum of the damage. The government has proposed that Parliament should deal with the amendment via a short-track legislative procedure. Minister Susko said that the amendment to the Penal Code in the case of petty theft is only the first step in addressing the growing occurrence of petty crime. ko/df