Overcoming wrongful convictions in criminal proceedings

(Baonghean.vn) - Within the framework of the 36th session of the National Assembly Standing Committee, on the morning of March 13, in Hanoi, the National Assembly Standing Committee opened a question-and-answer session with the Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court and the Minister and Chairman of the Government's Ethnic Committee.

The meeting was chaired by Comrade Nguyen Sinh Hung - Politburo member, Chairman of the National Assembly and Vice Chairmen of the National Assembly. The meeting was broadcast live on radio and television and connected online to 63 provinces and cities nationwide.

On the Nghe An side, the meeting was chaired by comrade Pham Van Ha - Deputy Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation, Chief Justice of the Provincial People's Court, along with representatives of a number of provincial departments and branches.

Deputy Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation Pham Van Ha presided at the bridge point in Nghe An

Speaking at the opening of the question-and-answer session, comrade Nguyen Sinh Hung emphasized: This question-and-answer session has two major key contents to serve the upcoming National Assembly session. The situation of wrongful convictions in criminal proceedings and compensation for wrongful convictions according to the provisions of the Law on State Compensation Liability, affecting the human rights of people who have been wrongly convicted and affecting socio-economic development. The implementation of the Government's programs to carry out the tasks of the National Assembly, improve the lives of people, especially people in mountainous areas, ethnic minorities, and border areas. Therefore, through the question-and-answer session, the questioners and questioners need to clarify the situation and reality of each issue, clearly identify the causes, difficulties, and obstacles, propose recommendations and solutions to solve the problems, as a basis for the National Assembly to make decisions and policies at the upcoming session, contributing to solving the problems, meeting the expectations of the people of the whole country.

In the morning, the National Assembly Standing Committee spent all its time questioning Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court Truong Hoa Binh about the situation of wrongful convictions in criminal proceedings and compensation for wrongful convictions according to the provisions of the Law on State Compensation Liability. The issue was of interest to National Assembly deputies, who questioned and requested the Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court to clarify a number of cases that have attracted public attention and concern from the people nationwide. This included clarifying the nature and progress of reviewing the responsibilities of the prosecution agencies in allowing wrongful convictions in trials, affecting the rights and honor of some people who were wrongly convicted. Some deputies also raised the issue of using forced confessions and torture in investigations and trials, affecting the rights and legitimate interests of people who were wrongly convicted. The situation of shirking responsibility in implementing compensation for those who were wrongly convicted.

Conference overview

In response to the question-and-answer session, Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court Truong Hoa Binh admitted the violations in the proceedings; clearly stating the cause was due to loose legal regulations and the responsibility of the prosecution force. Regarding the responsibility for compensation for wrongful convictions, according to the Chief Justice, it is necessary to specifically identify a central agency, an "arbitrator" in the compensation for wrongful convictions for those who have been wrongly prosecuted. Also at the question-and-answer session, representatives of the Ministry of Public Security and the Supreme People's Procuracy participated in explaining and clarifying related issues.

This afternoon, the National Assembly Standing Committee continued the questioning session with the Minister and Chairman of the Government's Ethnic Committee.

Minh Chi