Moldovan cabinet makes amendments to Criminal Code

Chisinau, 20 June /MOLDPRES/ – The physicians and medical workers will be more protected from physical, mental and verbal aggression. The acts of hooliganism committed on territory or in the public or private medical institutions will be sanctioned with a fine up MDL 67.5 thousand or with imprisonment of up to 5 years, the government's communication and protocol department has reported.  

There were approved respective amendments to Criminal Code by Government today, for not admitting cases of violation of human rights. In recent years, there have been more cases of violence against healthcare professionals, and recently a doctor has been beaten by the husband of a deceased patient.

The amendments also provide for introduction of punishment for promotion of suicide, including through social networking. Thus, persons distributing suicide support messages via Internet will be punished with unpaid work up to 240 hours or up to 4 years imprisonment.

Also, persons which violate intellectual property rights will be released from criminal responsibility if they contribute to discovering the crime and will repair the caused damage. The unauthorised use of copyright is increasing, especially in online environment, where computer, games, video and audio programmes are placed illegally.

The amendments also provide for exclusion of criminal penalties for economic agents which will work with employees of Competition Council to find cases of violation of competition rules.

Another novelty concerns the introduction of criminal punishment for cruelty treatment or torture of animals. The persons which have committed such offences will be punished with a fine of up to MDL 37.5 thousand, unpaid work from 100 to 180 hours or imprisonment for up to 1 year. At present, cruelty to animals is sanctioned only by contravention, with a fine of up to MDL 3,600.