Bill requiring defendants to appear in court for appeals endorsed by NLA

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The National Legislative Assembly on Thursday passed the final reading of a bill to amend the Criminal Procedure Code making it compulsory for a defendant to be present at the court if he/she wants to appeal his/her case to the higher courts.

 

The bill received 166 supporting votes with four abstentions.

 

The bill was initiated to the NLA to prevent defendants from taking advantage of the Criminal Procedure Code by assigning their lawyers to appeal the decisions of the lower courts to higher courts on their behalf while they run away or jump bail.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/bill-requiring-defendants-appear-court-appeals-endorsed-nla/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2016-09-16

Seems like a good move. They should also include non appearance(s) as a signal to proceed without the defendant present on new cases.

41 minutes ago, Valentine said:

Seems like a good move. They should also include non appearance(s) as a signal to proceed without the defendant present on new cases.

 

You're right, of course, but that might inconvenience too many people who have the money and connections to jump bail....

How about fugitives from justice living overseas filing defamation charges without the inconvenience of having to appear ?

They also need to tighten up on selected accused supplying a succession of ' sick notes ' to delay proceedings but that doesn't need a law just the courts to do their job. Unfortunately that would mean everyone getting equal treatment and not some getting special consideration.

Edited September 15, 20169 yr by NongKhaiKid