Commentary on Judgment No. 49940 of 2023: Extortion and Balancing of Circumstances

Judgment No. 49940 of October 10, 2023, filed on December 15, 2023, provides important clarifications on the regulation of aggravating factors in the crime of extortion. Partially overturning the decision of the Preliminary Hearing Judge of Cremona, the Court specified how to interpret the referral made by Article 629, paragraph two, of the Penal Code to Article 628, last paragraph, of the Penal Code. This referral, as clarified by the Court, must be understood in relation to the current paragraph three of Article 628 and not to paragraph five, which concerns the interplay between aggravating and mitigating factors.

The Referral and Aggravating Factors in the Crime of Extortion

The Court established that the referral to the aggravating factors for the crime of extortion, expressly regulated by the legislator, does not extend to the peculiarities of the balancing of circumstances provided for the crime of robbery. In this sense, the judgment clarifies that, in the absence of regulatory provisions, the rules concerning robbery cannot be extended in a negative manner to the case of extortion. This interpretation is fundamental to ensuring a correct application of the norms, avoiding confusion between the two offenses.

Referral made to the aggravating factors referred to in Article 628, last paragraph, Penal Code - Reference to be understood as to the current Article 628, paragraph three, Penal Code - Consequences regarding the balancing of circumstances. The referral made, concerning the aggravating factors applicable to the crime of extortion, from Article 629, paragraph two, Penal Code to Article 628, last paragraph, Penal Code must be understood as referring, following the amendments made by Law No. 94 of July 15, 2009, to the current paragraph three of Article 628 of the Penal Code and not to paragraph five, concerning the interplay between aggravating and mitigating factors. (In its reasoning, the Court also specified that, in the absence of regulatory provisions, the peculiar regime provided for balancing circumstances in the crime of robbery by Article 628, paragraph five, Penal Code, which excludes the comparison of the aggravating factors referred to in numbers 3, 3-bis, 3-ter, and 3-quater of that provision, cannot be deemed extended in a negative manner to the crime of extortion).

Implications of the Judgment for Legal Practice

This judgment has several practical implications for legal practitioners, including:

  • Clarity in distinguishing between the aggravating factors in the crime of extortion and those in the crime of robbery.
  • The necessity to consider the balancing of circumstances according to the specific norms related to the crime of extortion.
  • An invitation to stay updated on legislative and interpretative changes that may influence the management of extortion cases.

Conclusions

In conclusion, Judgment No. 49940 of 2023 represents an important step forward in understanding the rules governing the crime of extortion. The Court has drawn a clear boundary between the different types of offenses, clarifying the regulatory referral and its consequences on the balancing of circumstances. This not only helps to prevent misinterpretations but also offers insights for a fairer application of justice.

Bianucci Law Firm