08.12.08

The federal prosecutor's Investigation Committee  has  proposed  that  property  should be seized not only from corrupt officials, but also from their family members, and that immunity be taken  away  from  deputies  of  local legislatures,  if involved in corrupt deals.

The  Committee's  Board  on  Thursday, discussed the fight against corruption  and  proposed  amending Article 151 of the Criminal Code and "expanding  the  list  of  properties  that  can be seized from persons suspected  of involvement in corrupt deals," the Investigation Committee said in a statement.

"The  list  could  incorporate  all properties,  owned  by corrupt officials  and  also  by  members  of  their families,  which will make prevention  more  efficient and do away with the main incentive breeding corruption," the Committee said.

"An  analysis shows that deputies of local legislatures and members of local  governments,  as  well  as  elected heads of local governments account  for  a  larger share of prosecuted persons with a special legal status," the Investigation Committee said.

"Instances have been registered, when persons elected to such posts had a record  of  serious  crimes, or were members of organized criminal groups and  remained active in the criminal world after their election," due to a relaxed system of checking the candidates, it said.

"Immunity  shelters them from prosecution, and it therefore must be taken away from them," the Investigation Committee said.

Read More about Legal Services from Alinga Consulting Group

Source: Interfax