Gov tempers justice with mercy in amended Criminal Law

The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress began Monday its first reading of an amendment to the Criminal Law.

If passed, the law would slash the number of crimes subject to the death penalty and toughen punishment of organized crime.

The proposed amendment, the eighth to the 1997 version of the Criminal Law, is meant to further implement the government’s policy to temper justice with mercy, according to a statement by the Chairmen’s Council of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee.

It is also intended to educate and reform convicted criminals, the statement said.

Fewer executions

Current law stipulates that 68 crimes are punishable by the death penalty. However, the draft amendment would eliminate capital punishment for 13 economic-related non-violent offences, a drop-off about 19 percent.

The 13 crimes to no longer be punishable by death include smuggling of cultural relics, gold, silver and other precious metals and rare animals and their products; falsely issuing exclusive value-added tax invoices to defraud export tax refunds or offset taxes; and teaching methods used to commit crimes.

The draft amendment also allows for leniency to offenders below 18 years or above 75, by stating that the death penalty is not to be applied to people 75 or older at the time of the crime. 

Previously, only minors and pregnant women were exempt from capital punishment.