Gov’t to Tighten Punishment for Covering Up Crime, Giving False Testimony

Under the initiative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, punishment is to be tightened for covering a crime, not notifying the relevant authorities about a crime, refusing to give testimony or giving false testimony.

The current legislation envisages the same sanctions for all the above mentioned crimes. The ministry believes that punishments are not in line with the nature of crimes which makes it an ineffective to fight against said crimes.

According to the current edition of the Criminal Code of Georgia, covering a crime envisages from 1 to 3 years in prison while not notifying authorities about a crime- from 2 to 4 years imprisonment.

The new initiative envisages separation of covering less grave, grave or especially grave crimes from each-other and implies different sanctions for each case.

Sanctions will also increase for giving false testimony and refusal to give testimony. Punishment for these crimes will increase by two years.

By Thea Morrison