Volume 120, Issue 4A
Royal Gazette
8 January 2546
Note: The grounds for promulgation of this Act are as follows: Since one of the important principles pertaining the punishment of criminal offenders is the correction of these people to allow them to start over as good citizens, the punishment which should be undergone by offenders needs to suit the nature of their offences. However, it appears that the number of the fined persons who are confined instead of [paying] the fines is now rising, which [means] these people are being inappropriately deprived of freedom, resulting in the increase of the trouble incurred by members of their families and the burden of the State to take care [of them]. It is appropriate to change the punitive measures anew by designating measures which would alternatively enable persons sentenced to fines to perform works of social service or works of public interest instead of [paying] the fines. Also, in the event that they might need to undergo confinement, they should be protected from incurring the change of their confinement to a heavier punishment of imprisonment and from being held together with alleged offenders in criminal cases carrying high rates of punishment. Furthermore, it is appropriate to improve the provisions relating to the pecuniary rates governing the confinement imposed instead of a fine so that they be in line with the present economic and social conditions. In addition, it is appropriate to furnish the courts with more opportunity to exercise their discretion with respect to the suspension of the designation of punishment or the suspension of the carrying out of punishment. Therefore, it is necessary to enact this Act.
