Deadline extends for judges' views on Criminal Procedure law

CAIRO - 16 August 2017: The Parliament’s Committee of Constitutional and Legislatives Affairs has extended the deadline for judges’ comments and suggestions regarding the amendment of Criminal Procedure Code to September.

A group of judges that attended the discussion sessions were required to submit reports about their views over the law amendment on August 15, fifteen days after the first discussion session.

The judges pointed that the law is voluminous, and needs extra time to be studied. In addition, members of the committee were given 15 days as a time limit to present their suggestions and views regarding the amendments, but some of them have requested an extension on the deadline.

Parliament has held three sessions to discuss bill drafted by the government for the law on August 2, 8 and 9, in attendance of Minister of Justice Mohamed Hossam Abdel-Rahim and General Prosecutor Nabil Sadek.

The three sessions were divided as follows: the first was held to discuss the views of the judicial authorities’ members, the second for discussing the views of law professors specialized in criminal law from different universities across the nation, and the third was dedicated for lawyers’ views.

The amendment draft included revisions for articles related to reconciliation procedures with prisoners, pre-trial detention, travel ban, investigative process of criminal cases, as well as activating criminal appeals.