Two inmates watch a virtual trial at the Counter-Terrorism Confinement Centre (CECOT) mega-prison, where hundreds of members of the MS-13 and 18 Street gangs are being held, in Tecoluca, El Salvador on January 27, 2025. (Photo by Marvin RECINOS / AFP)
San Salvador: El Salvador's Congress, with support from anti-gang crusader President Nayib Bukele, has approved tougher punishments for corruption and several violent crimes, including doubling the maximum prison sentence for murder to 60 years.
Bukele has carried out a sweeping crackdown on crime, including rounding up suspects without warrants and opening a maximum-security prison -- Latin America's largest.
Bukele's crackdown on street gangs has led to a sharp fall in homicides and is praised by many Salvadorans, although rights groups have criticized his methods as ignoring people's basic rights.
Under the new laws passed Friday, the crime of aggravated homicide will carry the most severe prison sentences, from 20-30 years, increased to 60 years.
The jail term for homicide without aggravating circumstances will rise from 15-20 years to 25-35 years.
The crimes of kidnapping, rape, sexual assault, theft and robbery also have increased penalties, according to the new regulations.
Prison sentences are also being increased for "all crimes that have to do with the corruption of public officials," according to pro-government lawmaker Kaleb Navarro.
Illicit enrichment will now be punishable by five to 15 years in prison, from three to 10 years previously, and those convicted of embezzlement can receive sentences of up to 12 years, from a previous maximum sentence of eight years in jail.
The Legislative Assembly also approved a reform to extend the pre-trial detention of a defendant to half the sentence for the crime they are charged with.
Since Bukele launched his crackdown on gangs in 2022, more than 80,000 people have been detained and around 8,000 them have later been released, according to official sources.
