Changes for better criminal justice system, police image
Saturday, 29 July 2006, 09:30
©New Straits Times
By Deborah Loh
PUTRAJAYA: Far-reaching amendments to the law have been made in a major move to improve the criminal justice system and clean up the image of the police.
The Government is doing away with cautioned statements which cause a delay in trials and public prosecutors will be required to provide documents and other evidence to defence lawyers ahead of a trial.
Any member of the public will have the right to lodge a police report at any station, mobile or patrol unit or officer on the street, and to have the police give a status report of their case a month later.
And if any police officer obstructs a member of the public from lodging a report, he can be reported to the public prosecutor who can initiate charges.
The changes are part of several amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).
Amendments to the CPC and the Penal Code were passed on Thursday in the Dewan Negara and will be enforced once the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong gives his consent.
The amendments which have received the most public attention are those regarding marital rape, a revised definition of rape and stiffer punishments for snatch thieves.
But the removal of cautioned statements and the availability of prosecution documents to the defence mark a concerted effort at speeding up trials and cleaning up the image of the police.
In explaining the changes yesterday, Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said they would not only save court time but also improve police investigation procedures. They are also expected to help mend the police force’s battered image.
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