FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Top court opposes bill on probation without trial

Top court opposes bill on probation without trial

SUPREME COURT President Weerapol Tangsuwan yesterday sent his representative to oppose a bill empowering public prosecutors to give suspects in criminal cases involving jail terms of less than five years probation instead of indicting them.

Court of Appeals Chief Justice Channarong Praneejit yesterday filed a petition with National Legislative Assembly (NLA) President Pornpetch Wichitcholchai opposing the passage of the bill.
Channarong said the bill had been reviewed by the Council of State, and is still being reviewed by the Cabinet, ahead of the NLA’s decision.
He said the court believed the bill violated human rights because it empowered public prosecutors to put suspects on probation without facing trial.
Channarong said the bill deprived parties of the right to seek redress in court.
“If the NLA passes this bill, it would have social ramifications and impact the criminal procedure. People would lose faith in the justice system in the long term,’’ he warned.
The bill was proposed in 1989 but several governments refused to bring it to Parliament for deliberation.
Pornpetch said he did not want to see conflicts between state agencies and that he would heed the recommendations of the Supreme Court president.
He said the court had also filed a petition with the Cabinet in addition to the NLA opposing the bill.
“If this bill were passed, the Mercedes-Benz and Ford car crash case would not reach the court,’’ he said, referring to high-profile accident last week in which two people were killed.
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Kreangam earlier had said the bill would advance reconciliation efforts.
 
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