Enforcement of sentences imposed

Serbia

Criminal Code

GENERAL PART

Chapter Four
PENALTIES

1. Purpose of Punishment, Types of Punishment and Requirements for Imposition thereof

Imprisonment
Article 45

(1) A sentence of imprisonment may not be less than thirty days or more than twenty years.

(2) A sentence of imprisonment referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article is pronounced in full years and months, and if under six months then also in days.

(3) A term of imprisonment from thirty to forty years may exceptionally be pronounced for the most serious criminal offences or the most serious forms of criminal offences together with the penalty referred to in para 1 of this Article. This sentence is pronounced in full years.

(4) A term of imprisonment from thirty to forty years may not be pronounced to a person who at the time of commission of the criminal offence is under twenty-one years of age.

(5) When pronouncing to a perpetrator of a criminal offence a sentence of up to one year of imprisonment, the court may concurrently order its enforcement in the premises wherein he/she lives if in respect to the personality of the perpetrator, his/her previous lifestyle, his/her conduct after commission of the offence, degree of guilt and other circumstances under which the offence was perpetrated it may be expected that in this manner the purpose of punishment will also be achieved.

(6) A convicted person serving a prison sentence in the manner provided under paragraph 5 of this Article may not leave the premises wherein he/she resides, except in cases stipulated by the law governing enforcement of criminal sanctions. If the convicted person wilfully leaves the premises wherein he/she resides for a period exceeding six hours or wilfully leaves the premises wherein he/she resides twice for a period up to six hours, the court shall order remand to a penal institutions to serve the remaining part of the sentence.

(7) Persons convicted of criminal offences relating to marriage and family who live in the same household with the injured party may not be ordered to serve their prison sentences under the terms provided for in paragraph 5 hereof.”.

Release on Parole
Article 46

(1) The court shall release on parole a convicted person who has served two-thirds of his/her prison sentence if during serving of sentence he/she has rehabilitated to such extent that it may be reasonably assumed that he/she shall conduct himself/herself properly at liberty, and particularly that he/she shall not commit a new criminal offence prior to expiry of the time to which he/she was sentenced. In evaluating whether to release a convicted person on parole his/her conduct during serving of sentence, performance of work duties, in respect to his/her working ability, as well as other circumstances indicating that the purpose of punishment in respect to him/her has been achieved, shall be taken under consideration. A convicted person who during serving of sentence has been disciplined twice and had his/her privileges revoked may not be released on parole.

(2) If requirements specified in paragraph 1 of this Article are met the court may release on parole a convicted person :

- serving a prison sentence of 30 to 40 years ;
- convicted for crimes against humanity and other goods protected by international law (Articles 370 through 393a), for criminal offences against gender freedom (Article 178 through 186b), criminal offence of family violence (Article 194 paragraphs 2 through 4), criminal offence of production and putting in circulation of narcotics (Article 246 paragraph 4), criminal offence against the constitutional order and security of the Republic of Serbia (Article 306 through 321), criminal offence of giving bribe (Article 367 and criminal offence of taking bribe (Article 368) ;
- convicted by competent courts and/or their special departments, in proceedings conducted in accordance with jurisdiction defined under the Law on Organisation and Jurisdiction of Government Authorities in Combating Organised Crime, Corruption and other Serious Criminal Offences ;
- finally convicted more than three times to unconditional prison sentence and no expunction was made or there or no conditions to expunge any of the sentences.

(3) In its decision on release on parole, the Court may order that the convicted person must fulfil obligations stipulated in criminal provisions.

In the case referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article, if parole is not revoked, it shall be considered that the convicted person has served his sentence.

Revocation of Parole
Article 47

(1) The court shall revoke parole if the convicted person, while on parole, commits one or more criminal offences punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year.

(2) The court may revoke parole, if a person on parole commits one or more criminal offences punishable by a term of imprisonment of under one year, and/or fails to meet any of the obligations set forth by the court according to Article 46, paragraph 3 hereof. In determining whether to revoke the parole, the court shall particularly take into consideration whether criminal offences are related, motives and other circumstances justifying revocation of parole.

(3) provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article shall also apply when the paroled person is tried for a criminal offence committed prior to release on parole.

(4) When the court revokes parole it shall pronounce sentence by applying provisions of Article 60 and 62, paragraph 2 hereof, taking the previously pronounced sentence as already established. The part of the sentence served by the convicted person pursuant to previous conviction shall be calculated into the new sentence, whilst time spent on parole shall not be calculated.

(5) If the paroled person is convicted to a term of imprisonment under one year, and the court does not revoke parole, parole shall be extended for the period of imprisonment for such sentence served by the convicted persons.

(6) In cases referred to in paragraphs 1 through 3 of this Article, parole may be revoked not later than two years from the day parole has expired.

GENERAL PART

Chapter Four
PENALTIES

1. Purpose of Punishment, Types of Punishment and Requirements for Imposition thereof

General Provisions on Fines
Article 48

(1) A fine may be determined and pronounced either in daily amounts (Article 49) or a particular amount (Article 50).

(2) A fine for criminal offences committed for gain may be pronounced as secondary punishment even when not stipulated by law or when the law stipulates that the perpetrator may be punished with imprisonment or fine, and the court pronounces imprisonment as the principal punishment.

Fine in Daily Amounts
Article 49

(1) A fine in daily amounts shall be determined by first defining the number of daily amounts and then the sum of the daily amount. The final amount of the fine shall be determined by the court by multiplying the adjudicated number of daily amounts with the value of one daily amount.

(2) The number of daily amounts may not be less than ten nor exceed three hundred and sixty days. The number of daily amounts for the committed criminal offence shall be determined in accordance with the general rules for determining penalties (Article 54).

(3) The sum of one daily amount is determined by dividing the difference between the income and expenditures of the perpetrator during the previous year by the number of days in the year. A single daily amount may not be under five hundred dinars or more than fifty thousand dinars.

(4) For the purpose of determining the daily amount the court may request information from banks and other financial institutions, government authorities and legal entities who are obliged to deliver the requested information and may not invoke protection of business or other secret.

(5) If it is not possible to obtain verified information on the income and expenses of the perpetrator, or if he does not generate any income, but owns property or holds property rights, the court shall as a rough estimate determine the daily amount based on the available information. The number of daily amounts is determined within the following ranges :

1) up to sixty for criminal offences punishable by imprisonment up to three months ;
2) from thirty to one hundred and twenty for criminal offences punishable by imprisonment up to six months ;
3) from sixty to one hundred and eighty for criminal offences punishable by imprisonment up to one year ;
4) from one hundred and twenty to two hundred and forty for criminal offences punishable by imprisonment up to two years ;
5) at least one hundred and eighty for criminal offences punishable by imprisonment up to three years.
6) within the prescribed amount for criminal offences where a fine is prescribed as the only penalty.

Fine in Particular Amount
Article 50

(1) If it is not possible to determine the amount of a daily amount either based on the rough estimate of the court (Art. 49, para 5), or collecting of such information would significantly prolong the criminal proceedings, the court shall pronounce a fine in set amount within the stipulated range of minimum and maximum fine.

(2) A fine may not be less than ten thousand dinars. A fine may not exceed one million dinars and in case of criminal offences committed for gain more than ten million dinars.

(3) A fine as principal punishment is pronounced in the following amounts :

1) up to one hundred thousand dinars for criminal offences punishable by imprisonment up to three months ;
2) from twenty thousand to two hundred thousand dinars for criminal offences punishable by imprisonment up to six months ;
3) from thirty thousand to three hundred thousand dinars for criminal offences punishable by imprisonment up to one year ;
4) from fifty thousand to five hundred thousand dinars for criminal offences punishable by imprisonment up to two years ;
5) at least one hundred thousand dinars for criminal offences punishable by imprisonment up to three years.
6) within the prescribed amount for criminal offences where a fine is prescribed as the only penalty.

Enforcement of Fine
Article 51

(1) The time period for payment of a fine is defined in the judgement and may not be less than fifteen days or more than three months. In justifiable cases the court may allow the convicted person to pay the fine in instalments where the period of payment may not exceed one year.

(2) If the convicted person fails to pay the fine within the set period, the court shall replace the fine with a term of imprisonment, by converting each one thousand dinars into one day of imprisonment, provided that the term of imprisonment may not exceed six months, and if the pronounced fine exceeds seven hundred thousand dinars, the term of imprisonment may not exceed one year.

(3) If the convicted person pays only a part of the fine, the court shall convert pro rata the remaining amount of the fine to a term of imprisonment, and if the convicted person pays the remaining amount of the fine, enforcement of the prison sentence shall be discontinued.

(4) An unpaid fine may instead of imprisonment be replaced with a community service order, by converting each one thousand dinars into eight hours of community service, provided the total duration of community service does not exceed three hundred and sixty hours.

(5) After death of the convicted person the fine shall not be enforced.

GENERAL PART

Chapter Seven
CONFISCATION OF MATERIAL GAIN

Grounds for Confiscation of Material Gain
Article 91

(1) No one may retain material gain obtained by criminal offence.

(2) The gain referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be seized on conditions provided herein and by decision of the court determining commission of a criminal offence.

Conditions and Manner of Seizure of Material Gain
Article 92

(1) Money, items of value and all other material gains obtained by a criminal offence shall be seized from the offender, and if such seizure should not be possible, the offender shall be obligated to hand over other assets corresponding to the value of assets obtained through commission of criminal offence or deriving there from or to pay a pecuniary amount commensurate with obtained material gain.

(2) Material gain obtained by a criminal offence shall also be seized from the legal entity or natural person it has been transferred to without compensation or with compensation that is obviously inadequate to its actual value.

(3) If material gain is obtained by an offence for another, such gain shall be seized.

Protection of the Injured Party
Article 93

(1) If in criminal proceedings a property claim of the injured party is accepted, the court shall order seizure of material gain only if it exceeds the adjudicated amount of the property claim.

(2) The injured party who in criminal proceedings has been directed to institute civil action in respect of his/her property claim, may request compensation from the seized material gain if he/she institutes a civil action within six months from the day the decision referring him/her to litigation becomes final.

(3) The injured party who does not file a property claim during criminal proceedings may request compensation from the seized material gain if he has instituted civil action to determine his claim within three months from the day of learning of the judgement ordering seizure of material gain, and not later than three years from the day the order on seizure of material gain became final.

(4) In cases referred in paragraphs 2and 3 of this Article, the injured party must, within three months from the day the decision accepting his property claim became final, request to be compensated from the seized material gain.

Criminal Procedure Code

Part Three
SPECIAL PROCEEDINGS

Chapter XXII
PROCEEDINGS FOR CONFISCATION OF PROCEEDS FROM CRIME

Applicable Provisions of the Code
Article 537

The provisions of Articles 538 through 543 of this Code shall apply in the proceedings for the confiscation of proceeds from crime, and unless these provisions specify something special, the other provisions of this Code shall apply mutatis mutandis.

Duty to Determine the Proceeds from Crime
Article 538

The proceeds from crime are determined in criminal proceedings ex officio.

The authority conducting proceedings is required to collect evidence and examine circumstances of importance for determining the proceeds from crime during the proceedings.

If an injured party has submitted a restitution claim whose subject matter excludes the confiscation of proceeds from crime, the proceeds from crime shall be determined only in the part which is not encompassed by the restitution claim.

Confiscating Proceeds from Crime from Other Persons
Article 539

When the confiscation of proceeds from crime from other persons may be considered, the person to whom proceeds from crime were transferred free of charge or with compensation obviously not commensurate with the true value, or a representative of a legal person, shall be summoned for questioning in the preliminary proceedings and at the trial. This person shall be cautioned in the summons that the proceedings shall be conducted even in his absence.

The representative of a legal person shall be examined at the trial after the defendant. The same procedure shall apply to the other person referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, unless he has been summoned as a witness.

The person referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, i.e. the representative of a legal person, is authorised to propose evidence in connection with the determination of the proceeds from crime, and to examine the defendant, witness, expert witness and professional consultant with the permission of the panel president.

The exclusion of the public from the trial does not relate to the person referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, i.e. the representative of a legal person.

If the court determines only during the trial that proceeds of crime may be confiscated, it shall adjourn the trial and summon the person referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, i.e. the representative of a legal person.

Temporary Measures for Securing Claims
Article 540

When proceeds from crime may be confiscated, the court shall order temporary measures of securing claims, acting ex officio, according to the provisions of the law which regulates the proceedings of enforcement and securing claims. In this case, the provisions of Article 257 paragraphs 2 to 4 of this Code shall apply mutatis mutandis.

Decision of the Confiscation of Proceeds from Crime
Article 541

The court may impose the confiscation of proceeds from crime in the judgment of conviction or in a ruling on the imposition of the security measure of compulsory psychiatric treatment.

The court shall evaluate the proceeds from crime at its discretion, if its determination would cause disproportionate difficulties or considerably delay the proceedings.

The court shall specify in the summary judgment or ruling which object or amount of money is being confiscated.

A certified copy of the judgment, or ruling, is also delivered to the person referred to in Article 539 paragraph 1 of this Code, as well as the representative of a legal person, if the court has imposed the confiscation of proceeds from crime from that person, or legal person.

Analogous Application of Provisions on the Appeal against a First Instance Judgment
Article 542

The provisions of Article 434 paragraphs 4 and 5, Article 444 and Article 449 of this Code shall apply mutatis mutandis in respect of an appeal against a decision on the confiscation of proceeds from crime.

Motion to Reopen Criminal Proceedings
Article 543

A physical person or a representative of a legal person (Article 539 paragraph 1) may submit a motion for the reopening of criminal proceedings in respect of the decision on the confiscation of proceeds from crime.

Law on cooperation with the International Criminal Court

V ENFORCEMENT OF DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT

Execution of Prison Sentences Imposed in Judgements Passed by the International Criminal Court

Article 32

The Republic of Serbia shall allow for the execution of prison sentences imposed in judgements passed by the International Criminal Court, at appropriate institutions in the Republic of Serbia based a separate agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the International Criminal Court.

The prison sentence referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be executed in accordance with the regulations of the Republic of Serbia, unless otherwise specified under a separate agreement.

Costs of the execution of the prison sentence mentioned in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be borne by the International Criminal Court, unless otherwise specified under a separate agreement.

V ENFORCEMENT OF DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT


General Rules on Enforcement of Decisions Taken by the International Criminal Court

Article 31

The Republic of Serbia shall in good faith enforce judgements and other decisions taken by the International Criminal Court.

During the procedure of enforcement of decisions referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article the competent state authorities shall apply the Statute and other regulations that are the sources of rights applied in the proceeding before the International Criminal Court or concerning it, including appropriate rules of the national law.

The Republic of Serbia shall, without delay, notify the International Criminal Court on the existence of any factual or legal impediments as to the enforcement of the decisions referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, for the purposes of consultations on further actions.


Execution of Prison Sentences Imposed in Judgements Passed by the International Criminal Court

Article 32

The Republic of Serbia shall allow for the execution of prison sentences imposed in judgements passed by the International Criminal Court, at appropriate institutions in the Republic of Serbia based a separate agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the International Criminal Court.

The prison sentence referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be executed in accordance with the regulations of the Republic of Serbia, unless otherwise specified under a separate agreement.

Costs of the execution of the prison sentence mentioned in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be borne by the International Criminal Court, unless otherwise specified under a separate agreement.


Enforcement of Fine, Decisions on Seizure of Property of the Convicted Person's and Compensation of Damages to Victims of Crime

Article 33

When the International Criminal Court requests from the Republic of Serbia to enforce a decision on fine, seizure of property of the accused person's or compensation of damages to victims of crime referred to in Article 1 of this Law, the procedure of enforcement shall be conducted by the court in the Republic of Serbia competent for enforcement, in accordance with the law.

If the enforcement procedure has not been carried out, partially or in entirety, due to the fact that the debtor's property does not comprise funds appropriate to be the subject of enforcement, or for other reasons set forth in the law, the competent enforcement court shall notify the Ministry about it.

The Ministry shall without delay notify the International Criminal Court on the impediments referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article, for the purposes of consultations on further actions.

Rome Statute

Article 103 Role of States in enforcement of sentences of imprisonment

1.

(a) A sentence of imprisonment shall be served in a State designated by the Court from a list of States which have indicated to the Court their willingness to accept sentenced persons.

(b) At the time of declaring its willingness to accept sentenced persons, a State may attach conditions to its acceptance as agreed by the Court and in accordance with this Part.

(c) A State designated in a particular case shall promptly inform the Court whether it accepts the Court's designation.

2.

(a) The State of enforcement shall notify the Court of any circumstances, including the exercise of any conditions agreed under paragraph 1, which could materially affect the terms or extent of the imprisonment. The Court shall be given at least 45 days' notice of any such known or foreseeable circumstances. During this period, the State of enforcement shall take no action that might prejudice its obligations under article 110.

(b) Where the Court cannot agree to the circumstances referred to in subparagraph (a), it shall notify the State of enforcement and proceed in accordance with article 104, paragraph 1.

3. In exercising its discretion to make a designation under paragraph 1, the Court shall take into account the following:

(a) The principle that States Parties should share the responsibility for enforcing sentences of imprisonment, in accordance with principles of equitable distribution, as provided in the Rules of Procedure and Evidence;

(b) The application of widely accepted international treaty standards governing the treatment of prisoners;

(c) The views of the sentenced person;

(d) The nationality of the sentenced person;

(e) Such other factors regarding the circumstances of the crime or the person sentenced, or the effective enforcement of the sentence, as may be appropriate in designating the State of enforcement.

4. If no State is designated under paragraph 1, the sentence of imprisonment shall be served in a prison facility made available by the host State, in accordance with the conditions set out in the headquarters agreement referred to in article 3, paragraph 2. In such a case, the costs arising out of the enforcement of a sentence of imprisonment shall be borne by the Court.

Article 104 Change in designation of State of enforcement

1. The Court may, at any time, decide to transfer a sentenced person to a prison of another State.

2. A sentenced person may, at any time, apply to the Court to be transferred from the State of enforcement.

Article 105 Enforcement of the sentence

1. Subject to conditions which a State may have specified in accordance with article 103, paragraph 1 (b), the sentence of imprisonment shall be binding on the States Parties, which shall in no case modify it.

2. The Court alone shall have the right to decide any application for appeal and revision. The State of enforcement shall not impede the making of any such application by a sentenced person.

Article 106 Supervision of enforcement of sentences and conditions of imprisonment

1. The enforcement of a sentence of imprisonment shall be subject to the supervision of the Court and shall be consistent with widely accepted international treaty standards governing treatment of prisoners.

2. The conditions of imprisonment shall be governed by the law of the State of enforcement and shall be consistent with widely accepted international treaty standards governing treatment of prisoners; in no case shall such conditions be more or less favourable than those available to prisoners convicted of similar offences in the State of enforcement.

3. Communications between a sentenced person and the Court shall be unimpeded and confidential.

Article 109 Enforcement of fines and forfeiture measures

1. States Parties shall give effect to fines or forfeitures ordered by the Court under Part 7, without prejudice to the rights of bona fide third parties, and in accordance with the procedure of their national law.

2. If a State Party is unable to give effect to an order for forfeiture, it shall take measures to recover the value of the proceeds, property or assets ordered by the Court to be forfeited, without prejudice to the rights of bona fide third parties.

3. Property, or the proceeds of the sale of real property or, where appropriate, the sale of other property, which is obtained by a State Party as a result of its enforcement of a judgement of the Court shall be transferred to the Court.