Bulgaria Parliament Backs Life Jail Term for Violent Kidnapping

The increased punishment of between 15 to 30 years for kidnapping and life imprisonment in multiple or violent kidnapping cases was approved by the Parliament. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

The Bulgarian Parliament has passed amendments to the Penal Code at the first reading, which includes new harsher penalties for kidnapping including a possible life sentence.

The increased punishment of between 15 to 30 years for kidnapping and life imprisonment in multiple or violent kidnapping cases was bought in by the Parliament. So far the heaviest penalty for kidnapping has been between 5 to 10 years, but after a spate of recent high profile cases there has been pressure on the government to increase the punishment.

Former Interior Minister and Bulgarian Socialist Party MP Mihail Mikov slammed the amendments; "They've increased the punishments in April and are now expanding them again. What is the purpose of this amendment to the penal code - a mechanical increase of penalties.”

Co-Chair of the parliamentary group of GERB, Iskra Fidosova, defendened the amendments but said that murder must still be regarded as the most serious crime and punished accordingly.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!