Mexican lawmakers OK life terms for kidnapping

The lower house of Mexico’s Congress has approved reforms to the kidnapping law that call for prison terms of 40 years to life if a victim dies, backing a measure proposed by the government in the wake of several abductions that rocked the country.

The reforms to the General Law to Prevent and Punish Kidnappings were approved by the Chamber of Deputies on a vote Tuesday of 309-1, with five abstentions.

The reforms codify the punishments and penalties for kidnappings.

Individuals convicted of kidnapping will face fines of 10,000 to 12,000 days of the minimum wage (between $35,700 and $42,700).

Terms of 40 years to life in prison will be imposed in cases where the victim died while being taken hostage or during captivity due to the effects of being held against their will or from an illness not treated by the kidnappers.

Prison terms of 35 years will apply in cases involving torture or sexual violence against victims, with a fine of 6,000 to 9,000 days of the minimum wage (between $21,000 and $32,000) being levied.

The reforms, which must still be approved by the Senate, call for prison terms of 20 years to 40 years for those convicted of "express" kidnappings, robbery or extortion independent of the terms for these crimes.

Federal and state prosecutors would be allowed to ask federal judges for authorization to intercept private communications in kidnapping cases.

"Life in prison is an unusual punishment and should be as harsh as necessary to prevent and end this crime with vengeance," Congressman Luis Carlos Campos, of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, said.

The legislation does not violate individual rights, Congressman Pablo Escudero, of the Mexican Green Party, or PVEM, said.

"We are acting in full compliance with human rights, individual guarantees and, most importantly, we are acting in response to the demands of society," Escudero said.

Mexico has been plagued for years by a wave of violence unleashed by organized crime groups involved in kidnappings and drug, arms and people trafficking.

More than 8,000 kidnappings were reported in Mexico in 2010, security firm Multisistemas de Seguridad Industrial said in a report released earlier this year.

The figures are not official and no government agency at any level provides complete and consolidated information on kidnappings in Mexico.

(Published by LA Herald Tribune - December 1, 2011)