Recording sound and image to prevent extortion and torture
15/4/15
To prevent extortion and torture among
investigations, which could lead to unjustly judgement, Draft of Criminal
Procedure Code proposed that interrogation of the accused must be compulsorily recorded
sounds or images and the accused has the right not to testify against himself
or forced to identify himself on guilty ...
Regarding views of the Judicial
Committee about the above provisions, Ms. Le Thi Nga, Vice Chairman of the
Judiciary Committee said, according to current regulations, declaration or not
declaration and how they declare are considered a right, not the obligation of
the arrested and the accused. Therefore, they can follow or not to exercise
this right.
However, in order to enhance
transparency, making it easy to understand and creating consistent awareness in
testimony activities, contributing to anti-extortion-and-torture, many lawmakers
proposed to the provisions in the direction of arrested and accused people have
the right freely to present testimony, opinion, not be compelled to testify
against himself or be forced to accept his guilt.
Shareing the same opinion with the lawmakers,
Deputy Minister of Public Security Le Quy Vuong said he was concerned about the
“right to silence”. “We face a criminal incident, we detect crime but also to
protect the victim”.
Despite the fact that he has the
right but we should not say “right to silent”, he said. He did the crime and
was found guilty with violations of the law, he must present instead. We defend
the rights for him, he have to respect thw law.
However, Mr. Le Thuc Anh,
Chairman of the Vietnam Bar Federation, said that law does not define “right to
silence” but it should define “the accused has the right not to declare their
disadvantage”.
A solution against extortion and
torture raised by Mr. Le Huu The as prescribed that mandatory recording of
sound or images on interrogation operation to the accused. However, some argued
that the economic conditions are more difficult to ensure.
After all, it should be inheritted
the current regulations in recording when it deems necessary. The occurrence of
a number recent wrongfully judgements due to the lack of responsibility of the
investigators, prosecutors. We can not take them as examples to adjust policies
especially when it will spend much state budget.
Some lawmakers agreed with the
provisions to mandatorily record interrogation operations of the accused.
However, many ideas considered that above regulation in all cases is not
necessary and feasible. It is enough for all interrogations of the accused to
be recorded in the minutes of the interrogation and all included in the case
file.
Besides, in case of necessity as
defendants claim innocence, denouncing extortion, torture or under sentence of
death, it may be required to record sound and images.
All comments [ 3 ]
extortion and torture during investigations have happened quite popularly, so it's important that related agencies realize their mistakes to change and avoid repeating again
reccently the authority 's admitting mistakes in investigations and judgements as well as publiclly apologizing show more democracy in Vietnam.
promulgating Criminal Procedure Code is good way to limit mistakes in investigations and judgements
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