Santo Domingo.– The communicator and businessman Santiago Matías proposed that the defamation penalties contemplated in the Penal Code be modified so that financial fines are the main punishment measure, leaving prison as an exceptional option.
Matías proposed that President Luis Abinader observe the regulation and allow an extension of the legislature to introduce this modification, considering that defamation should continue to be punished, but without applying prison as a first measure.
The proposal establishes that imprisonment should only be applied when the convicted person cannot pay the imposed financial fines and after complying with the corresponding rules to determine that measure.
In addition, it proposes the elimination of complementary penalties linked to this type of crime.
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“Defamation must be punished. Prison would only be applicable when the convicted person cannot pay the financial fines”, stated Matías when explaining his approach.
The communicator reported that the proposal was reached by consensus together with Alofoke, Sandy Sainthilaire, José Peguero, Ramón Tolentino and Ariel Lara, among other participants.
Matías maintained that democracy does not only consist of protesting, but also of presenting proposals, which is why he called on the president to evaluate these changes before the Penal Code comes into effect.
