Judges required to explain reasons behind pre-trial detention

26 March 2014
The Cambodia Daily
Crime and law enforcement / Government / Judiciary and courts / Law and judiciary / Laws and regulations / Legal and judicial reform / Ministries and other national bodies / Ministry of Justice
Ang Vong Vathana / Cambodian Defenders Project / Code of Criminal Procedure / Court of Appeal / Ith Rady / Ministry of Justice / Phnom Penh Municipal Court / Sok Sam Oeun / Vorn Pao

Judges are now required to write a reasoned explanation when placing citizens in pre-trial detention, instead of simply checking a box as was previously practiced, Justice Minister Ang Vong Vathana said Tuesday. But the Ministry of Justice is also considering amending the criminal procedure code to transfer such powers to a panel, he added. … Ith Rady, an under-secretary of state at the Justice Ministry, said in a presentation Tuesday that the old method of determining whether pre-trial detention is necessary had been problematic because of the ambiguity surrounding a judge’s decision. …

 Lauren Crothers
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/judges-required-to-explain-reasons-behind-pre-trial-detention-54913/