At first reading: Parliament approved mechanism for investigation of crimes allegedly committed by the Prosecutor General

MPs on May 19 adopted at first reading the amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code, which provide for the introduction of the post of a prosecutor with powers to investigate crimes allegedly committed by the Prosecutor General and his/her deputies.

The proposed amendments envisage the investigating prosecutor to be a criminal judge who will be temporarily seconded to this position. It is envisaged that he or she will be selected from a list of judges who have previously agreed to take on the role of investigating prosecutor. They will be required to meet several conditions: a minimum of 12 years of experience and at least 7 years of experience with criminal cases.

It is also proposed that the decision to dismiss the Prosecutor General could be taken by 13 votes of the Supreme Judicial Council, not 17.

During the discussion in the plenary chamber, there was a dispute about the constitutionality of the bill.

The MPs also decided that the time limit between the first and second reading of the amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code and the Judiciary Act should be three days.