MPs scrutinize new penal code

By Rachel NtubeNgwese in Yaounde

Minister of Justice, Laurent Esso

After the adoption of the bill authorizing the president of the republic to ratify the Paris climate change agreement, subsequently forwarded to the senate, MPs took more time in examining the bill on the revision of the penal code presented by the minister of justice keeper of the seals Laurent Esso. Members of the constitutional laws committee last Tuesday first met in a working group to examine the bill. But  the voluminous nature of the document that consist of 360 articles posed a problem to the MPs who thought they needed time enough to understand the content of the document before debating on it.

                This is because it is the first time the code is brought before parliament for examination since its promulgation on 12 November 1965 and revision on 12 June 1967. According to the justice minister, certain provisions of the code do not march other penal laws in force and equally do not integrate some international conventions signed by Cameroon such as the united nations convention against corruption, the convention for the elimination of all sorts of discrimination against women, the convention relating to the protection of the rights of children and the OHADA laws amongst others.

                In other to meet up with some insufficiencies and domesticate such international laws, several innovations have been introduced in the bill containing the modified penal code.

                Accordingly, persons convicted for a prison term of two years and/or with fines could resort to alternative sentences such as community labour or reparatory sentences.

                Other innovations in the revised penal code include the criminalization of certain offenses previously taken for granted such as the inability or refusal of tenants to pay their rents, the forceful eviction of a spouse from the matrimonial home, illegal sale of drugs, adultery by men, street begging amongst others.