Paraguay
Deputies Give Preliminary Approval to Bill That Toughens Penalties for Prisoner Releases and Escapes
The initiative promoted by Yamil Esgaib was approved in the Chamber of Deputies and now moves to the Senate. It provides for penalties of up to five years, with aggravating circumstances of between five and 15 years for involved officials.
The Chamber of Deputies approved this Tuesday a bill that amends Article 294 of the Paraguayan Penal Code to increase penalties for the release of people deprived of liberty, inducing escape and aiding such escapes.
According to Última Hora, the initiative was introduced by Deputy Yamil Esgaib and had already received general approval in a previous session. With this preliminary approval, the text now moves to the Chamber of Senators.
The bill establishes a prison sentence of up to five years for those who free an inmate, induce them to escape or help with the escape, including attempted escape.
According to Última Hora, the text also sets an aggravating circumstance for cases in which public officials are involved, especially if they work in a correctional institution and have the duty to prevent the escape. In those cases, the penalty provided ranges from five to 15 years of deprivation of liberty.
In the statement of reasons, cited by Última Hora, it is argued that the escapes recorded in recent years show the participation of outside actors, including officials, law enforcement officers and members of criminal organizations, in collusion with prison staff.
The initiative also proposes harsher penalties in cases of “mass escape,” defined as the release of more than one inmate.
Sources
About this note. Written by El Notero with assistance from artificial intelligence, based on what was published by the cited outlet. El Notero did not do its own reporting on this event.
