NEW PENAL CODE ISSUED IN SPAIN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18644, 22 December 1928, Page 5

NEW PENAL CODE ISSUED IN SPAIN.

“ GLAD EYE ” PUNISHABLE BY IMPRISONMENT. (Special to the “ Star.”) MADRID. September 14. To-day is the fifth anniversary of General Primo de Rivera’s coup d’etat, and the occasion is being celebrated by an extensive amnesty to criminals and the publication of a new penal code. This code contains many novel clauses, the most interesting of which is the following: The “Piropo”—the act of a man in addressing a compliment to a strange woman in the street and giving her the “glad eye”—will be punishable in serious cases by imprisonment of from five to ten days and a fine of from about 15s to £l6 10s. Senor Galo Ponte, the Minister of Justice, last night broadcast an explanation of the scope of the amnesty and the new penal code. Two other clauses of the code read: In cases of duelling the seconds will be considered as guilty as the duellists. A husband who murders his wife may no longer advance unfaithfulness as a plea of justification, even though he may have excellent proof of his suspicions. In referring to the amnesty, the Minister said that all offences are affected without exception. In regard to heavy, as well as light, sentences, the term of imprisonment is reduced by 10 per cent, while life sentences are reduced to terms of thirty years. All convictions imposed by virtue of laws which have been suppressed in the new penal code are to be immediately quashed, and persons condemned by court-martial will have the benefit of the amnesty until December 31. The semi-official agency to-day publishes a statement regarding the recent plot and states that numerous arrests have been made all over the country.