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Gov't draws up amendments to Criminal Procedure Act

The Office of the Chief State Prosecutor will have a maximum period of two and a half months for either issuing an indictment or dropping charges against a suspect upon the completion of an investigation, according to draft amendments to the Criminal Procedure Act sent by the government to parliament on Thursday.
 

The cabinet of Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic proposes 250 new amendments, with Justice Minister Orsat Miljenic explaining that no new law could be proposed due to "deadlines imposed by the Constitutional Court".

The latest modification of the Criminal Procedure Act ensued after the Constitutional Court in July revoked partially or fully 43 provisions of the act to make sure that both damaged parties or indictees enjoy a higher level of legal protection and to provide prosecutors with more efficient tools.

Miljenic said that the proposed amendments served that purpose without putting at risk the fight against crime.

The latest amendments envisage that the criminal charges must be handled within six months, and that damaged parties and suspects have the right to ask for information about their cases two months after charges are brought.

Burden of proof may also rest on panels of judges for evidence not previously proposed.

Defendants with court-appointed defence lawyers will be subject to covering costs if it is established later that they have enough means.

(Hina) ms
 

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