The General Legislation Commission at the ARP continues to examine the reform of article 96 of the Criminal Code. At stake: Clarify offenses linked to the embezzlement of public funds while protecting public arbitrary officials.
The Committee on the General Legislation of the Assembly of People’s Representatives (ARP) continued, Thursday, the examination of several bills, including the amendment proposal for article 96 of the penal code. This emblematic text frames the crimes of embezzlement of public funds by agents of the administration.
Two proposals presented by deputies were merged into a unified version, drawn up in the light of the hearings carried out with actors in the judicial sector, in particular the union of Tunisian magistrates, the order of lawyers, the Court of Auditors as well as the Ministry of Justice.
The objective of this revision, according to members of the Commission, is to find a balance between the necessary protection of public funds and the guarantee of the freedom of initiative and interpretation of public officials, often confronted with complex situations in the exercise of their functions.
A session dedicated to the final exam and the vote of the consolidated version is planned. The Commission also decided to consult specialists in criminal law in order to ensure the legal and constitutional relevance of the text in the current context.
