Top procuratorate urges careful handling of guilty-plea cases

BEIJING -- China's top procuratorate has asked the country's prosecutors to carefully deal with cases involving possible lenient penalties on criminal suspects who admit their guilt and accept punishment, to make sure it has a good social effect.

A circular issued by the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) and published Thursday has 28 requirements regarding proper implementation of the procedure.

In the circular, the SPP has asked procuratorates at all levels to apply the procedure in accordance with law and make sure it is used in every eligible case.

However, it also emphasized that the procuratorial agencies should not only pay heed to the number of cases to which the procedure has been applied, but ensure the quality of work so that the use of the procedure leads to a better effect on society.

It noted that suspects and defendants pleading guilty in criminal lawsuits will be given a chance to receive a lenient penalty, but it is not obligatory that all of them are granted leniency.

Relevant procedure must be undertaken with particular prudence in cases of crime that seriously endanger national security or public security and also in cases of crime involving severe violence, the circular said.

The circular stressed that illegal means must not be used to force or con the suspects into cooperating and the rights and interests of the victims must be protected.

The circular requires the prosecutors to be careful in judging whether the plea of the suspect or defendant is sincere or deceptive.

It also asks for stepped up inspection and supervision of prosecutors' work to prevent judicial personnel twisting the law.