A working session of the National Assembly of Thailand (Photo: bangkokpost)Bangkok (VNA)– The National Legislative Assembly of Thailand has passed a law on criminalcases against politicians that allows trial in absentia.
The new law make it pointless for political office holders to escape thecountry and wait for the statute of limitation to expire.
It is one of ten laws arising from Thailand’s 2017 Constitution and considered importantto ensure the transparency of the country’s politics ahead of a generalelection scheduled in late 2018.
Accordingly, the statute of limitation does not cover the period of timeindicted politicians flee the country. The law also allows the Supreme Court’sCriminal Division for Political Office Holders to hear cases against indictedpoliticians in absentia.
Apart from allowing trial in absentia, the new law includes changes to criminalprocedures against political office holders, such as encouraging the court to investigateand find evidence against defendants rather than relying on theprosecution.-VNA
The new law make it pointless for political office holders to escape thecountry and wait for the statute of limitation to expire.
It is one of ten laws arising from Thailand’s 2017 Constitution and considered importantto ensure the transparency of the country’s politics ahead of a generalelection scheduled in late 2018.
Accordingly, the statute of limitation does not cover the period of timeindicted politicians flee the country. The law also allows the Supreme Court’sCriminal Division for Political Office Holders to hear cases against indictedpoliticians in absentia.
Apart from allowing trial in absentia, the new law includes changes to criminalprocedures against political office holders, such as encouraging the court to investigateand find evidence against defendants rather than relying on theprosecution.-VNA
VNA
