Zelensky signs law on decriminalization of petty theft

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a bill that regulates administrative liability for petty theft of property, decriminalizing petty thefts of up to UAH 3,028. This is reported on the website of the parliament, UNN reports.

Details

"06.08.2024 - returned with the signature of the President of Ukraine," the document's status report reads.

As previously reported, theft of UAH 300 was a criminal offense; the law raises the threshold to UAH 3,000 and also increases administrative liability for petty theft: for theft of up to UAH 757, a fine of 850 to 1,700; for theft of UAH 758 to 3,028, a fine of 1,700 to 5,100; for repeated theft, a fine of 8,500 to 17,000.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, this draft law is proposed in general:

Increase the minimum threshold for distinguishing between administrative and criminal liability for theft, fraud, misappropriation or embezzlement by 10 times (from 0.2 to 2 tax-free minimum incomes, namely from UAH 302.80 to UAH 3,028).

Introduction of a new construction of Article 51 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, which provides:

• delineation of liability depending on the amount of stolen goods;
• introducing liability for repeated petty theft;
• introducing liability for systematic (three or more times) petty theft.

It is prohibited to close cases of repeated and systematic petty theft (parts 3 and 4 of Article 51 of the Code of Administrative Offenses) due to the insignificance of the offense (Article 22 of the Code of Administrative Offenses).

The term of imposition of an administrative penalty for petty theft is increased to 6 months (currently 3 months).

The courts will consider petty theft cases without the mandatory presence of a person and within 15 days (currently 5 days).

"The law aims to establish a fairer and more proportionate liability for petty theft," said Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Bohdan Drapyaty.