Toughened sentences planned for those causing fires

Cabinet on Monday submitted six amended bills to parliament on fire prevention for forests and the countryside, Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou said.

Panayiotou said that some general elements included in these bills are that the legal framework is revised and modernised and new offences are added. There is a universal separation of offences into offences of endangerment, and offences without intention but due to reckless and negligent action and behaviour or failure to take the necessary precautions.

She added that there is an identification of penalties in different laws so that there is no different treatment of the same or similar offences through different laws depending on where they occur.

She said that the Forestry Law, which was updated and activated in 2018, was the basis for the changes in these six pieces of legislation, but always in accordance with what was provided for in the criminal code.

The Forestry Law was amended to add the obligation for the person who caused a fire to pay all, or part of the amount spent on suppressing the fire in addition to the penalty to be decided by the court.

Panayiotou said that the penalties are tightened as follows: In forests to 12 years imprisonment or €100 thousand fine from 10 years or €50 thousand that existed in the existing legislation, in the countryside the offender will face 10 years imprisonment or €75 thousand fine from five years and €20 thousand that existed in the existing legislation while in municipalities and communities offender will face up to eight years imprisonment or €50 thousand fine from three months or €860 euros that existed in the existing legislation.