Chief drafter clarifies points of bill regarding political office holders

By The Nation

 

 

Criminal cases that already had final court rulings would not be subject to any further legal proceedings under the new draft bill on court procedures against political office holders, chief charter drafter Meechai Ruchupan on Wednesday.
 

Legal proceedings under this new law would not be applied to such cases where the defendants had fled the country to avoid penalties, or they would become retroactive and be against the rule of law, Meechai stressed.

 

Meechai said the bill’s content was drafted without the aim of targeting any person. It was based on universal principles, he insisted, adding that he had no idea why Pheu Thai would make a plea to international rights organisations regarding the proposed law.

 

The bill, among 10 organic laws required by the new charter, has become highly controversial as it would enable the court to proceed with cases that had been put on hold after defendants fled the country.

 

Its provisional clause underlines the point, suggesting that any ongoing cases would proceed according to this new law. 

 

In addition, the statue of limitations would not be counted if the defendant fled the country, meaning cases would be subject to legal proceedings without time limits.

 

The bill does address cases where final court rulings had been made before the defendant left the country, but lawmakers debate whether penalties put on hold because of the defendant’s absence could be retroactive.

 

Meechai, as a principal drafter of the bill, ruled this out.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30321210

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-7-19

On 7/19/2017 at 6:53 PM, snoop1130 said:

It was based on universal principles, he insisted, adding that he had no idea why Pheu Thai would make a plea to international rights organisations regarding the proposed law.

Maybe because it isn't based on universal principles.

Never seen specifically what "universal principles" form the basis. As everything must be done with "Thainess" by the junta, it would be surprising that any universal principles can apply to Thailand.