Use Threatening Words and Face Up to 5 Years behind Bars

Kareem Musa

On Thursday, we told you about an amendment to the Criminal Code Act that could see persons convicted of aggravated assault face up to as much as five years imprisonment. The amendment will upgrade the Use of Threatening Words or behaviors from a petty offence to a serious offence. Minister of Home Affairs, Kareem Musa, says this is one of the most common charges brought against individuals before the Magistrates court. He explained why the amendment was necessary.

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs

“When you are speaking generally about the group of individuals now being protected, there was a recognition by the Attorney General that these certain groups of people who are very public in terms of the type of work they do for the country are exposed and often times targeted. So it was felt by Cabinet and National Security Council that we need to offer some level of protection for this group of individuals, so there are two pieces of legislation that will be amended under the Summary Jurisdiction Offences Act and under the Criminal Code, dealing with matters of assault which will now be elevated to the level of aggravated assault, similar to the instance if someone were to assault a police officer. That is considered aggravated assault. So, it is somewhat categorized on that level now. As well, the level of threat, if there is a level of threat made against these individuals that would also attract a higher sanction. Usually in an instance to threat on one’s life the court would provide certain restrictions in terms of you cannot communicate with these individuals, go near to them. It cannot be assumed. If you go to the Magistrates Court there are many people being charged for threatening words. That is some of the most common charges. So the police cannot assign a police to every person in this country. So that is why we saw it necessary to increase the charges for this particular group of individuals and that would offer some protection.”