CRI听力:9 Crimes May Lose Death Penalty; Expert Comments

At least one legal observer here in China is suggesting a new amendment being put forward connected to the country's Criminal Law will help bring China's legal codes more in-line with global standards.

An amendment put forward to the bi-monthly session of the National People's Congress Standing Committee this week is meant to eliminate the death penalty for nine different crimes.

The crimes themselves are all non-violent offenses, and range from fraud to counterfeiting, among others.

Ruan Qilin is a professor with China's University of Political Science and Law.

"These nine crimes to be abolished are all non-violent. Crimes such as forcing another person to engage in prostitution and raising funds by means of fraud do not pose a deadly danger to others. Reducing the use of death penalty is in-line with common global standards."

The draft itself does note the removal of death penalty shouldn't be viewed as a softening of the government's position on the offences, noting all the crimes involved still carry potential life in prison.

The draft also includes a proposal to toughen the laws for bribery.

Li Shishi is on the Standing Committee of the National People Congress.

He says one of the proposals is calling for a stricter criteria judges will have to follow when handing down sentences.

"The draft is aimed at scrapping the specific amount of money as a yardstick in bribery cases. Instead, it defines three kinds of sentences for those whose conduct results in serious consequences to society. Violators may even face the death penalty if their behavior brings massive losses to the country or the public."

Li Shishi also says those who try to bribe officials are also being targeted in the new amendment.