The initiative of the General Law against Extortion was approved by a majority in the Justice Commission, so it will be discussed in the plenary session of the Chamber of Deputies.
Mexico City, October 28 (However).- The Justice Commission of the Chamber of Deputies approved the project for which the General Law to Prevent, Investigate and Punish Crimes Related to Extortionsent by President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo.
The initiative presidential was endorsed, without modifications, by mostwith 25 votes in favor, zero against and three abstentions, so it will now go to the plenary session San Lazarus for discussion and voting during the session on Wednesday, October 29.
The opinion approved by the deputies of the Justice Commission It establishes more severe penalties for those who commit extortion, such as the collection of fees, in addition to proposing that this crime be prosecuted ex officio and unifies the classification at the federal level.
What measures does the draft General Law against Extortion establish?
The project to issue the General Law against extortion proposes different reforms to the Federal Penal Code, the National Code of Criminal Procedures, the Federal Law against Organized Crime, the National Law of Asset Forfeiture and the Organic Law of the Judicial Branch of the Federation.
The initiative includes the following proposals:
- Penalties of six to 15 years in prison and fines of 100 to 500 times the value of the Measurement and Update Unit (UMA), from 11 thousand to 50 thousand pesos, “for anyone who, without right, forces another to give, do, stop doing or tolerate something, obtaining a benefit or profit for themselves or for another or causing someone patrimonial, moral, physical or psychological damage or harm.”
- In cases of floor collection where the victims are minors, pregnant women, elderly people or migrants, as well as in cases in which public servants are involved, the penalty will be up to 25 years in prison for those responsible.
- People found guilty of committing extortion will not be able to access reduced prison sentences nor will they be able to leave prison early, except in cases in which the accused agree to cooperate with justice.
- The crime of extortion will be prosecuted ex officio and anonymous complaints may be filed, allowing authorities to initiate investigations without the need for a formal complaint.