Polish justice ministry plans tougher penalties for sex offenders

"I believe that the Polish state should be ruthless and brutal towards perpetrators of violent crimes, extreme cruelty, rape, paedophilia and sexually motivated murders, but should act under the law and in line with civilized rules," Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro told journalists at a press conference on Wednesday.

A bill drafted by the justice minister extends the maximum prison sentence for gang rape to 25 years, raising the minimum jail time to eight years. At present, such a crime carries a sentence of three to 15 years.

Under the proposed legislation, felons convicted of extreme cruelty would serve a prison sentence of 10 to 30 years. As it stands, Polish law allows a five to 15-year prison sentence.

Also, under the new bill sex offences would not fall under the statute of limitations.

On Wednesday, President Andrzej Duda signed into law a bill paving the way for a database of convicted child molesters. (aba/pk)

Source: IAR, PAP