16
organs acted according to the terms of the COPP (Basic Code of Criminal
Procedure)22 the results of this case would be different.
c) The judgment even analyzes the lack of action on the part of the State during the
criminal proceedings to conclude that such inactivity led to a detrimental act for the
victims. In fact, it was mentioned that the Attorney General’s Office had to request
the dismissal of the complaints in case that after the opening of the investigation, it
was determined that the facts of this case constituted a crime that needed to be
prosecuted at the request of a party, in accordance with section 301 of the COPP of
2001. It is necessary to emphasize that two sections of that instrument are in
conflict with this decision: sections 24 and 25. 23 To base the decision to condemn the
State24 on the inactivity of the Attorney General’s Office by not having requested the
dismissal according to section 301 ejusdem, means not doing a full interpretation of
the code in question and not understanding that the private individuals should have,
in that situation and according to the two sections mentioned, directly resorted to
the judicial authorities.
Moreover, this requirement is also based (paragraph 301 and 302) on the mistaken
interpretation of section 75 of the COPP, 25 by understanding from that, the burden
that lies on the State to produce all the measures of evidence necessary and to
investigate the complaints with due diligence, concluding that the judicial authorities
did not decide on the application of the rules on connection, neither they delivered
decisions, except for some cases, that clarified whether the channel chosen was the
appropriate one (paragraph 303). The truth is that said section deals with the
ancillary jurisdiction for the case in which a same person is held responsible for the
commission of a publicly actionable crime and a crime prosecutable at the request of
a party, determining that the case shall be heard by the court competent to try the
publicly actionable crime and the rules of ordinary procedure shall govern. The rule
22
Cf. para. 310 to 312 of the judgment from which I dissent.
23
“Article 24. Exercise. The criminal action must be instituted by the Attorney General's Office ex officio,
unless it may be only be instituted by the victim or at the victim's request". The emphasis is
mine.
“Section 25. Offenses that can be prosecuted in a private suit. The victim can only institute the actions
resulting from crimes that the law establishes as offenses prosecutable in a private suit. Moreover, the
prosecution shall be conducted pursuant to the special procedure regulated by this Code.
Nevertheless, for those offenses that can be prosecuted in a private suit as established in Chapters I, II
and III, Title VIII, Second Book of the Criminal Code, it would be enough the accusation brought before
the Public Prosecutor Office or before the competent police division of criminal investigations, made by the
victim or its legal representatives or guardians, if the victim were incompetent, without prejudice to the
terms established by special laws”.
Where the victim is not able to bring an accusation or suit by itself, due to its age or mental condition, or
if the victim has no legal representation, or if such representation is not competent, the Attorney
General's Office has the obligation to institute the criminal action. The pardon, dismissal or waiver of the
victim shall end the proceeding, unless the victim was a minor (less than 18 years of age).
24
Para. 304 of the judgment from which I dissent.
25
“Section 75. Ancillary Jurisdiction. “If any of the related crimes corresponds to the competence of
an ordinary court and other crimes to the competence of special courts, the case shall be heard by the
ordinary criminal court”.
When a same person is responsible for the commission of a publicly actionable crime and a crime
prosecutable at the request of the aggrieved party, the case shall be heard by the court competent to try
the publicly actionable crime and the rules of ordinary procedure shall govern”.
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