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Home | Media | News | The Imprecise Phrasing of a Provision of the Criminal Code on the Excess of Power and Excess of Official Authority Resulting in Serious Consequences – Unconstitutional
01.10
2018 The Imprecise Phrasing of a Provision of the Criminal Code on the Excess of Power and Excess of Official Authority Resulting in Serious Consequences – UnconstitutionalThe Constitutional Court of Moldova delivered a judgment on the plea of unconstitutionality of Article 328 para. (3) let. d) of the Criminal Code (excess of power and excess of official authority resulting it serious consequences). Circumstances of the case Assessment of the Court It noted that there is no legal text that defines the notion of “serious consequences” employed by Article 328 para. (3) let. d) of the Criminal Court. The Court also observed that neither the case-law in the field did not develop for the criticised notion a meaning that would be an objective point of reference in assessing its content. On contrary, it held that the challenged provision leaves a wide margin of discretion to the courts of law, which has led to a non-uniform judicial practice. Therefore, considering the multitude of meanings of this phrase, the addressee of the criminal law cannot know what is the banned action or inaction, so that he could accommodate his conduct accordingly. In practice, it may not be established by the ones competent to apply the criminal law, save based on criteria lacking legal support. Even when making use of expertise advice, the addressee of the provision may be deprived of the possibility to comply with the legal provisions. In this respect, the Court considered that the provisions of Article 328 para. (3) let. d) of the Criminal Code are phrased in an imprecise and unclear manner, thus conferring upon the authorities applying it an excessive margin of discretion. Therefore, they do not meet the standard of quality of the criminal law, thus being in breach of Articles 1 para. (3) and 22, in conjunction with Article 23 para. (2) of the Constitution. Conclusions of the Court It declared unconstitutional letter d) of the paragraph (3) of Article 328 of the Criminal Code. This judgment is final, it cannot be appealed, it shall enter into force on the date of its adoption, and it shall be published in the Official Journal of Moldova.
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