Putin increases punishment for bomb hoaxes to 10 years in prison

Russian President Vladimir Putin has directed an increase in the term of sentence for "telephone terrorism" (bomb hoaxes) from 5 to 10 years of imprisonment. 

Putin signed an amendment on Saturday in the country's code of law. 

Amendments to Article 207 of Russia’s Criminal Code states that "a knowingly false report about planned explosion, arson or other activities that pose threat to people’s lives or could inflict significant damage to property will be punished by imprisonment for a period of 3 to 5 years."

The accused will also be charged with more than 1 million rubles ($17,319).

It further states that false phone calls that are made to "destabilize the activities of government agencies" shall be punished with a jail term for up to 6-8 years. 

The maximum term of sentence in severe cases like - when false reports of terrorist acts led to the death of a person or other grave consequences - the accused will be subject to 8 to 10 years imprisonment.

These amendments come at a time when the Russian president amended its existing terrorism law to crack down on terrorist activities in the country and stringently punish those who finance terrorism or recruit terrorists.