22 January 2008, 10:42
Committee Chairman, I.Kaletnik, said that the Bill, ‘On Amendments to Several Legislative Acts on Liability for Corruption Offences´ (Reg. No.0875), envisages a further improvement of Ukrainian Legislation as regards the administrative and criminal liability of persons involved in corruption actions and other offences related to corruption, in line with the provisions of the UN Convention against Corruption and the Criminal Law Convention. Amendments are made to The Criminal Code of Ukraine, The Procedural Criminal Code of Ukraine and Administrative Offences Code of Ukraine, establishing criminal and administrative liability for actions of corruption and deeds related to corruption, and the relevant prosecution procedure.
The Bill, ‘On the Principles of Prevention and Counteraction to Corruption´ (Reg. No 0876) aims at improving Legislation connected with prevention, disclosure and stopping corruption in public and private areas, compensation for damage inflicted by offences of corruption, Restitution of Rights and lawful interests of natural persons, Legal entities and the State, and regulating International co-operation in the fight against corruption. The Bill establishes types of liability for corruption offences (criminal, administrative, disciplinary and/or civil). It regulates the issues of control over implementation of Laws appertaining to prevention of and counteraction to corruption. Should this Bill be passed and take effect, the Law ‘On Combatting Corruption´ will become invalid six months after the publication if the Bill.
Another Bill, ‘On Liability of Legal Entities for Committing Corruption Offences´ (Reg. No.0877) creates liability of legal entities for corruption offences, as required by Clause 26 of the UN Convention against Corruption, and Clause 18 of the Council of Europe Convention on Fighting Corruption. The Bill establishes grounds for criminal liability of a legal entity for corruption offences, the level of penalties for offences as defined in the Bill, and the procedure for the opening of corruption offence cases, their cognizance, and appeals against Court judgements.
The outcome of discussion was that Committee Members resolved to prepare the above Bills for their Second Reading, for which purpose they set up a Task Force including People´s Deputies, Scholars, Law Enforcement and Members of Judicial Bodies. Round Tables, to discuss these Bills, are planned for February 2008.
The People´s Deputy, A. Pshonka, Sub-committee Chairman, was elected Head of the Task Force.