NLA endorses bill on criminal offences against political office holders

 

The National Legislative Assembly voted by 190 votes with four abstentions in favour of an organic law regarding criminal offences against political office holders.

 

Constitution Drafting Committee chairman Meechai Ruchupan said Friday that most content of organic law were similar to the existing law pertaining to criminal offences against political office holders.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/nla-endorses-bill-criminal-offences-political-office-holders/

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2017-06-03

"...the court being designated as the party which conducts the enquiry. The enquiry procedure still maintains the principle that the enquiry process is done in the presence of the defendant or accused ..."

 

But the inquiry will not maintain the principle of unbiased judicial review of evidence as it will be the court that determines what appropriate and relevant evidence will collected and interpreted. For example, if the prosecution fails to provide sufficient and/or relevant evidence to convict a defendant, the court rather than ruling the defendant "not guilty" has the authority to specify and collect sufficient evidence it deems relevant for conviction. The potential long term impact is a court system that becomes very susceptible to political and economic "outside influences."