Podgorica, (MINA) – The Parliament of Montenegro adopted amendments to the Criminal Code including the criminal offenses of illegal enrichment in connection with the exercise of public office and aggrevated hate speech.

The amendments to the Criminal Code, proposed by the Government, were adopted with the votes in favor of 55 MPs.

The proposal stipulates that a person who, while performing a public office, acquires, transfers or conceals property that is clearly disproportionate to their lawful income and whose value exceeds EUR 50,000 will be punished with imprisonment from six months to five years.

If the value of such property exceeds EUR 100,000, a stricter penalty is provided for; from one to eight years in prison.

The proposal also covers cases in which property was acquired, transferred or disposed of through persons connected to a public official.

The proposal introduces the criminal offense of aggravated hate speech into the Criminal Code, and expands the possibility of criminal prosecution for cybercrime.

The proposal introduces gender-motivated murder as the most serious form of murder, while criminal offenses related to sexual offenses against children will no longer be subject to statute of limitations.