“To make progress in the fight against organized crime, it is essential to introduce these amendments to the statute of Assets Forfeiture (Extinción de Dominio)1” stated Attorney General, Néstor Humberto Martínez Neira, during his speech in a debate that took place on Tuesday in the Congress in relation to the draft bill that modifies Law 1708 of 2014.
This initiative, which was approved by the plenary session of the House of Representatives, is intended to expedite the Assets Forfeiture process to increase efficiency when managing illegal assets and to include aspects related to “justicia premial”2, such as the recognition of cooperation of third parties that denounce and contribute to justice.
- Extinción de Dominio means “Loss of ownership of property derived from or used in criminal activity which has been seized by the government”.
- “Justicia Premial” is considered a group of benefits provided to the defendant in exchange for a less severe punishment or dismissal of some charges when he/she agrees to plead guilty (plea bargaining) or settlements are approved, among other measures.