Specificities of Compensation for Damage Caused by a Criminal Offense
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51738/kpolisa.2025.3r.003Keywords:
compensation for damage, statute of limitations, criminal offense, property claimAbstract
Numerous criminal offenses result in either material or non-material damage. Others are characterized by so-called abstract consequences, meaning that it is not necessary for a concrete consequence to occur for the criminal offense to be considered committed. Regardless of whether the consequence is an essential element of the criminal offense, the injured party may suffer damage caused by the offense. Recognizing the significance of such damage, the legislator has provided the injured party with the choice of seeking compensation either through civil proceedings or within criminal proceedings via the institute of a property claim. Additionally, Article 377 of the Law on Obligations [LOO] stipulates a privileged statute of limitations period for claims arising from damage caused by a criminal offense1, tying it to the limitation period for criminal prosecution when that period is longer than the general statute of limitations, which is three years from the date of knowledge of the damage or five years from the date the damage occurred. This approach enables the injured party to pursue compensation—either through a property claim within the criminal process or by initiating a civil lawsuit—within an extended time frame, considering that the legal interest harmed by a criminal act is generally of greater importance than that harmed by a tortious act. Nevertheless, it must be noted that if the criminal proceedings result in an acquittal, the general statute of limitations will apply.
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References
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Criminal Code (“Official Gazette of the RS”, Nos. 85/2005, 88/2005 – corr., 107/2005 – corr., 72/2009, 111/2009, 121/2012, 104/2013, 108/2014, 94/2016, 35/2019 and 94/2024)
Criminal Procedure Code (“Official Gazette of the RS”, Nos. 72/2011, 101/2011, 121/2012, 32/2013, 45/2013, 55/2014, 35/2019, 27/2021 – Constitutional Court decision and 62/2021 – Constitutional Court decision)
Law on Obligations (“Official Gazette of the SFRY”, Nos. 29/78, 39/85, 45/89 – Constitutional Court decision and 57/89, “Official Gazette of the FRY”, No. 31/93, “Official Gazette of Serbia and Montenegro”, No. 1/2003 – Constitutional Charter, and “Official Gazette of the RS”, No. 18/2020)
Civil Procedure Act (“Official Gazette of the RS”, Nos. 72/2011, 49/2013 – Constitutional Court decision, 74/2013 – Constitutional Court decision, 55/2014, 87/2018, 18/2020 and 10/2023 – other law)
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Position of the Supreme Court from the session of the Criminal Department of the Supreme Court, Su I-7 9/2024-1 dated 25 March 2024.
Contested issues discussed at the session of representatives of the criminal departments of the Appellate Courts and the Supreme Court for harmonization of case law held on 31 January 2024.
Court Decisions:
Decision of the Supreme Court, Rev 13248/2023 dated 30 May 2024.
Decision of the Supreme Court of Cassation, Rev 4240/2021 dated 2 February 2023.
Decision of the Higher Court in Novi Sad, Gž 11829/2022 dated 19 January 2023.
Decision of the Higher Court in Novi Sad, Gž-2835/2013 dated 20 November 2013.
Judgment of the Supreme Court of Cassation, Rev 3489/2019 dated 17 June 2020, adopted at the session of the Civil Department on 7 December 2021.
Judgment of the Supreme Court of Serbia, Rev. 1456/03 dated 21 December 2006.
Judgment of the Higher Court in Požarevac, Gž 394/17 dated 10 May 2017.
Judgment of the Basic Court in Petrovac na Mlavi – Court Unit in Žagubica, P-1308/15 dated 11 May 2016.
Judgment of the Supreme Court of Serbia, Rev. 1335/05 and Sgzz. 58/05 dated 30 November 2005.
Judgment of the Supreme Court of Cassation, Rev 281/2022 dated 22 March 2023.
Decision of the Constitutional Court, Už-1119/2017 dated 13 February 2020.
Decision of the Constitutional Court, Už-7928/2019 dated 21 April 2022.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Sanja Lukavac Spasojević, Marija Stanković, Marko Stankovic
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