Security & Strategic Review -May 2007

PANAMA | New 'citizen security' law approved. On 8 May the Panamanian congress approved by overwhelming majority a 'citizen security' law which stiffens penalties for a range of criminal offences and lowers the age of criminal responsibility. Aggravated homicide will now be punished with up to 20 years' imprisonment; culpable homicide, aggravated kidnapping and terrorism with up to 10. The maximum penalty for rape, drug trafficking and kidnapping will be nine years, and for aggravated robbery and gunrunning, six.