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| Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), presides over the closing meeting of the 24th session of the 11th NPC Standing Committee in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 31, 2011. (Xinhua/Fan Rujun) |
BEIJING, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) on Saturday voted to adopt a resolution to submit the draft amendment to the Criminal Procedural Law to the NPC's annual session for further reading.
The fifth annual session of the 11th National People's Congress will convene on March 5, 2012.
This draft amendment to the Criminal Procedural Law was first read in August 2011, 15 years after the last amendment.
It was published online to solicit public opinions from Aug. 30 to Sept. 30. About 80,000 pieces of feedback were received over the month-long period.
The draft amendment to the Criminal Procedural Law was submitted to the bimonthly session of NPC's Standing Committee, which concluded Saturday, for the second reading. It included many revisions based on suggestions offered by lawmakers and the general public.
The draft amendment for the second reading put bonds, shares and funds on the list of assets that prosecutors and police are allowed to check and freeze, given that criminal suspects might have a variety of financial assets.
The draft amendment adds a new clause allowing those who suffer from serious diseases, are unable to take care of themselves, are pregnant, or care for infants, to be released on bail.
The draft also aims to prevent forced confessions. Legal experts say the draft amendment will help improve the protection of criminal suspects' human rights following repeated cases of forced confessions and misappropriated justice.
The law was adopted in 1979 and revised once in 1996.
