Chilean migrant arrested for stealing Homeland Security Secretary’s Bag in DC
A Chelean national illegal migrant in the US has been arrested for stealing a designer handbag belonging to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during an Easter Sunday outing at a Washington, DC restaurant, law enforcement source told The New York Post.
The suspect, identified as 49-year-old Mario Bustamante-Leiva, allegedly stole a Gucci bag containing $3,000 incash, Secretary Noem’s driver’s license, passport, Department of Homeland Security badge, and apartment key from CapitalBurger, located about a mile from the White House. Surveillance footage reportedly showed the suspect wearing an N95 mask, a fur-collared jacket, dark pants, and a baseball cap during the theft.
Bustamante-Leiva has a prior record and was previously arrested in London in 2015 for a five-month robbery spree that resulted in the theft of phones, wallets and laptops worth approximately ₹ 31,96,370, according to Daily Mail report. He is now suspected of being part of a broader East Coast robbery network operating across the United States.
A second individual, also an undocumented migrant, was taken into custody in Miami and is currently held under a deportation notice while legal proceedings are underway. Authorities believe both suspects collaborated in a series of thefts nationwide.
US Attorney Ed Martin confirmed that there is no indication Secretary Noem was specifically targeted due to her role. Rather, the suspects are believed to have selected her based on the high-value handbag she was carrying. Martin added that Bustamante-Leive and his accomplice would be permanently barred from reentering the country following prosecution and deportation proceedings.
Responding to the arrest, Secretary Noem posted a statement on social media thanking the Secret Service, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and other law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation. She described the suspect as a “career criminal” who had “been in our country illegally for years,” adding that many American families have similarly fallen victim to criminal activity.
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Ordinance issued to increase number of Supreme Court judges from 34 to 38
New Delhi (PTI): The government has promulgated an ordinance to increase the strength of the Supreme Court from the present 34 judges to 38, including the Chief Justice of India.
The law ministry notified the ordinance on Saturday, which amended the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, to increase the sanctioned strength of the top court.
So far, the sanctioned strength of the top court was 34, including the Chief Justice of India (CJI). Now, the number of judges has been increased by four, taking the sanctioned strength to 38.
The top court will now have 37 judges, other than the CJI.
With the apex court having two vacancies at present, and the ordinance coming into force immediately, the Supreme Court Collegium will now have to recommend six names for appointment as judges in the top court.
A bill will be brought in the Monsoon Session of Parliament to convert the ordinance – an executive order – into a law passed by Parliament.
The Union Cabinet had cleared a draft bill on May 5 to increase the number of apex court judges.
The strength of the Supreme Court was last increased from 30 to 33 (excluding the CJI) in 2019.
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, as originally enacted in 1956, put the maximum number of judges (excluding the CJI) at 10.
This number was increased to 13 by the Supreme Court (Number of Judges), Amendment Act, 1960, and to 17 by another amendment to the law.
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 1986, augmented the strength of judges from 17 to 25, excluding the CJI.
A fresh amendment in 2009 further increased the strength from 25 to 30.
Article 124(3) of the Constitution lists the qualifications required to become a Supreme Court judge.
An Indian citizen who has either served as a high court judge for at least five years, or as an advocate for 10 years, or is a distinguished jurist, can be appointed to the top court.
The strength of the Supreme Court is increased based on the recommendations of the CJI, who writes to the Union law minister. After consulting the finance ministry, the Department of Justice under the law ministry moves the Cabinet with a draft bill.
