Government Outlines
Plans For Improved
Security
Jail for thieves of
cellular phones,
sanctions against "compras
y ventas" who accept
stolen goods and fines
for riders of
motorcycles without an
identity vest are all
part of the government's
plans to take back
national security from
criminals that will be
included in the Ley de
Seguridad Ciudadana that
was sent to the
Legislative Assembly
yesterday.
Costa Rica's vice
president, Laura
Chinchilla, said that
part of the legal
reforms to ensure
security for the
citizens are to fight
organize crime which has
taken over many
residential areas.
The VP made the
announcement,
accompanied by the
Fiscal General,
Francisco Dall’Anese;
the ministro de
Seguridad, Fernando
Berrocal, and the
director of OIJ, Jorge
Rojas.
"It is not a perfect of
fail proof plan. We are
open to see the response
and modify sections that
are controversial", said
Chinchilla.
To combat the increase
in crime committed by
those on motorcycles the
reforms will obligate
motorcyclists to wear a
vest that clearly
indicates the license
plate of the motorcycle,
in the same way it is
done in Colombia.
"With this measure we
can hope to eliminate
hired killings", said
Rojas.
The proposed law takes
into account elements
from other proposed laws
that are tied in the
Legislature, like giving
authorities the right to
immediately revoke
residency and deport
foreigners who commit
crimes in Costa Rica.
Berrocal made a plea to
legislators to approve
the proposal and as
quickly as possible. "It
would be a serious error
to stall this", he
insisted in his plea.
Included in the proposal
are also added
protection for victims
of crime and witnesses,
regulates possession of
firearms and authorized
the installation of
check points in
residential
neighbourhoods,
attempting to hit hard
at organized crime and
money laundering.
Chinchilla also made a
promise to send to the
Legislature a proposal
to authorize increasing
the budget of the Poder
Judicial by ¢11 billion
colones, money that is
urgently needed by
judicial officials to
combat the rise in
crime. |
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