Brazil's president signs anti-crime bill into law

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ANKARA (AA) - Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro signed into law an anti-crime bill that toughens measures to reduce crime rate, although he vetoed some parts.

Bolsonaro said on Twitter late Wednesday that the new law provided an "extremely positive" balance.

It increases the maximum period of conviction from 30 to 40 years and the period of detention of prisoners in federal prisons from 360 days to three years, renewable for a further three, according to the president.

The anti-crime law prohibits the right to temporary release from the conviction for those committing a heinous crime that has resulted in death and it extends the sentencing period from 4-8 years to 6-12 years, plus a fine, for those who sell weapons illegally.

Bolsonaro added that he vetoed the part that proposes to triple the penalty for internet crimes.

"Without the veto, we would have censorship on social media," he said.

The package was one of the main promises of Bolsonaro during his 2018 election campaign, which vows to end years of corruption and crime wave in the South American nation.