The statute of limitations for serious criminal acts, mainly in cases of organized crime and terrorism, is to be increased by 10 years according to legislation being drafted by the Justice Ministry, sources said yesterday.

Under the current system, prosecution ceases automatically 20 years after a crime is committed. As a result, in the November 17 terrorism investigation, suspects were not charged with crimes committed between 1975 and 1984.

Under the new bill, the statute of limitations will be increased to 30 years. However, if approved in Parliament, the law will not apply retroactively, and therefore is not expected to affect the prosecution of four suspected members of the Revolutionary Popular Struggle (ELA) terrorist group who were arrested in early February.