45 arrested businessmen bought freedom

The Belarusian authorities found another means to replenish the budget amid the economic crisis.

Alyaksandr Lukashenka freed 45 persons, who compensated for the damage in economic sector, from criminal responsibility before trials and pardoned 21 persons sentenced to imprisonment.

According to the official media, the appropriate decrees were signed on July 9, 2009.

We remind that article 881 (freeing from criminal responsibility caused by voluntary compensation for the damage) was included in the Criminal Code of Belarus last year. So, the Belarusian authorities have found another way to replenish the budget amid the economic crisis.

“Ezhednevnik” newspaper reported earlier that “20–30 persons, who have compensated for the damage proved by the investigation, are freed from criminal persecution for economic thefts on a large scale every month. The average sum of compensation is 500,000 dollars.”

So, we have 20–30 criminals whose average compensation was $500,000. Thus, the state earns 10–15 million dollars a month on selling indulgences. It gives 180 million dollars a year – good replenishment in the budget.