Parliament proposes tougher penalties for definite violations

/By Azernews/

By Nigar Abbasova

The Azerbaijani parliament proposed several amendments to the Code of Administrative Offences and to the Criminal Code during its regular plenary session on May 3.

MPs put forward even stiffest penalty for the violation of advertisement legislation. In accordance with the amendments proposed for the Code of Administrative Offences, it is planned to increase the fine for deliberate use of false information about services, goods or manufacturers in advertisement.

For now, the penalty for the above mentioned offenses are 100-150 manat for individuals, 400-600 manats for executives and 2,000-3,000 for juridical entities.

The parliament also considered the amendments envisaging a penalty for fake bankruptcy in Azerbaijan. In accordance with the amendment introduced in the Code of Administrative Offences, penalties will be imposed for fake bankruptcy in the amount of a double extent of damage should the falsification is made by executives and owners of commercial organizations or entrepreneurs on their insolvency in order to deceive creditors with the aim of getting deferred payment, debt relief, as well as for nonpayment of debts.

In accordance with the Code, penalties for the fake bankruptcy range from 1,000 to 2,000 manats for public individuals, while for legal persons bear tougher penalty in the amount of from 10,000 to 20,000.

The parliamentarians also propose to impose fine for destruction of intentional property. The changes designed for Article 186.1 of the Criminal Code envisions penalty for such law-break in case that inflicts considerable damage to the injured party in the amount of 1,000-2,000 manats or arrest for the term of up to two years.

The use of vehicle without the intention of larceny may be punishable as well. The amendments proposed to Article 185.1 of the Criminal Code specify fine for use of vehicle or any transport facility without the intention of larceny in the amount of 1,000-2,000 manats, corrective work or even arrest for the term of up to 2 years.

The current Code does not provide for any penalties for the mentioned activity.

MPs also propose amendments for illegal entrepreneurial activity. In accordance with the amendment, individuals engaged in illegal entrepreneurial activity will have to pay fine to get released from criminal responsibility. This amendment, designed for Article 192 of the Criminal Code, is on agenda of the next plenary session of Milli Majlis.

Amendment to the first sub-section of Article 192 of the Criminal Code specifies that the individual committed abovementioned act, is committed to pay for a full damage or transmit income, acquired by criminal means, to the state budget. Otherwise the individual will be made criminally responsible The current Code provides penalty for the mentioned activity in the form of fine or arrest for the term of up to 6 month.

The parliamentarians also propose to toughen penalties for holding lotteries and gambles. In accordance with the proposed amendment to the Code of Administrative Offences organization and holding of lotteries (except of promotional lotteries) by the individuals ineligible for the mentioned activity will be punished by penalties ranging from 3,000 to 4,000 manats. Penalties will also be imposed for holding gambles without accreditation. The current Code envisions penalty for such law-break in the amount of 1,500 - 2,000 manats.

All amendments have been submitted for consideration in the next plenary session scheduled for May 6.