Motorists that cause deaths or injuries to calibrate or in clandestine races, will have sentences up to 20 years. Feminicide will be between 30 and 40 years old.
Santo Domingo.-The new Criminal Code of the Dominican Republic, approved last week by the National Congress, contemplates more severe sanctions for the most serious crimes that threaten life, physical integrity and public safety, with penalties that range between 20 and 40 years in prison, in addition to fines in minimum wages of the public sector.
One of the most prominent points of the new legal framework is the typification of feminicide, approached in article 93, which defines it as “the fact that causes the death of a woman because of being a woman”, regardless of her age, the relationship with the aggressor or the place where the event occurs.
This figure includes sentences between 30 and 40 years in major prison, in addition to fines ranging from 50 to 1,000 minimum wages of the public sector.
Aggravated feminicide, according to article 94, will be sanctioned with a fixed penalty of 40 years in prison and a fine of 1,000 minimum wages when specific circumstances concur.
Among the aggravating ones are that the victim is a girl, teenager, aging or person with disabilities; that the crime occurs in front of relatives or minors; that there is a relationship of power, labor or sentimental between victim and perpetrator; or that the woman was pregnant.
It is also aggravated if the fact presents signs of cruelty, sexual violence, mutilation, necrophilia or exposure of the body in public spaces.
On the other hand, article 95 introduces a new criminal figure: related feminicide, applicable when a woman is killed in a context of gender violence, although it has not been the main objective of the aggressor. This modality entails penalties between 20 and 30 years in major prison, and fines of between 30 and 40 minimum wages of the public sector.
Sicariato
The new Criminal Code also clearly defines the criminal type of the sicariate with sanctions that can reach up to 40 years in prison.
According to article 98, he is considered a hired to those who plan, order, order or execute, directly or indirectly, a murder in exchange for a remuneration or promise of payment.
This conduct will be sanctioned with sentences between 30 and 40 years in major prison, and fines ranging between 50 and 1,000 minimum wages of the public sector.
Poisoning
Similarly, article 99 penalizes poisoning, defined as the act of attempting against the life of a person through the administration or use of toxic or non -toxic substances that may cause death, regardless of their physical state (liquid, solid or gaseous) or the form of application. The sentences also range between 30 and 40 years in major prison, with fines between 50 and 1,000 minimum wages.
The bikers
In terms of road safety, the new Criminal Code includes specific provisions to punish with severity to those who cause deaths through the use of motor vehicles in illegal races, acrobatics known as “calibrated” or competencies not authorized in public roads.
Article 113 establishes that if one or more people dies as a result of these activities, those responsible will face sentences of up to 20 years in prison and fines of between 20 and 30 minimum wages of the public sector.
In cases where there are no deaths, but permanent mutilations or disabilities, sentences of 5 to 10 years in prison and fines of between 10 and 20 minimum wages will be imposed. If the fact results in blows or wounds, the penalty will be between 2 and 3 years in prison, with fines ranging from 9 to 15 minimum wages.
The inclusion of this article responds to the growing social concern for the rise of the so -called “death careers”, illegal activities that are carried out in avenues and roads in the country, often organized through social networks and with high participation of young people.
Combat crimes
With this set of reforms, the new Criminal Code seeks to firm firmly the crimes that jeopardize life and citizen security, sending a clear message about the intolerance of the Dominican State against the most serious criminal behaviors.
More than two decades
On a legislative day loaded with symbolism, marked by the firm step towards an expected reform for more than 20 years, the Senate of the Republic approved last Thursday the new Criminal Code during an extraordinary legislature convened by President Luis Abinader and concludes this Tuesday.
In the early morning it had been approved by the Chamber of Deputies on a day that extended until after 3:00 in the morning.
Against the code
“Three causal.”
Various sectors and people have expressed themselves against the Criminal Code, considering it as a setback, because the three causes were not included, in addition to other issues that have been criticized.
Abinader closes cycle when promulgated
Decision. President Luis Abinader promulgated the Criminal Code yesterday, ending a discussion process of more than 20 years and allows to replace a piece that was incorporated into Dominican legislation in 1884.
The legislative piece had been approved by the National Congress last Thursday and on Friday was sent to the Executive Power, which had the option to promulgate it, as it effectively did, or observe it.
This is the fourth time that Congress approves the Criminal Code, but on the previous occasions it had been observed both by the then presidents Leonel Fernández and Danilo Medina.
The legislative piece establishes that it will enter into force in a year after its promulgation by the Executive.
*By Carlos Canario/ P. Jiménez
