HATC SAMPLE EDITION:    Politics & Foreign Relations    Economic News    Business News    Other News of Interest    All stories	23rd July, 2010 Jail terms possible for petty crimes Parliament passed amendments yesterday introducing harsher penalties for misdemeanours, that would make it possible to jail minors for committing misdemeanours. The change, passed by a vote of 261-46, mandates imprisonment for the petty crimes of theft, embezzlement, fraud, wilful vandalism or misuse of funds to a value of up to Ft 20,000. The same punishment is introduced for violation of private homes and false reporting. The amendment raised the fine levied by local authorities for all of the above crimes from Ft 30,000 to Ft 50,000. In a clause objected to by Jobbik, the amendment allows imprisonment for participation in the operation of organisations banned by courts or wearing the uniforms of such organisations at public events. In protest, Jobbik MPs stood up and placed their hands on the back of their heads. MP Zoltán Balczó said his party cannot approve the proposal because of the provisions afflicting the Magyar Gárda. Sources regularly consulted, with abbreviations used in text: Népszabadság (N); Magyar Hírlap (MH); Világgazdaság (VG); Napi Gazdaság (NG); Magyar Nemzet (MN); Népszava (Nsz); Kossuth Rádió news (KR); nightly TV news (TV).
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