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| Sunday, 5 June 2005 |
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Politics |  |
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Strengthening criminal justice system by Jayampathy Jayasinghe Justice and Judicial Reforms Minister John Seneviratne said in an exclusive interview with the Sunday Observer that the perception that the crime rate was high in recent times was not one hundred per cent accurate. He said what we witness today was more grave crime being committed than before. Most crimes committed earlier were not of serious nature and were not highlighted in the media as done now. Several measures have been taken by the Minister to curb the rising tide of crime. Several amendments to the law have been made in recent times in this regard. People pay more attention to crime these days because of its ruthless nature and due to the wide publicity given to them through the media. However the situation has become particularly alarming and the government is committed to find a solution to arrest the trend. "As the Minister of Justice I have been in consultation with a number of committees that have looked into grave crime. Steps are being taken to strengthen the criminal justice system with several amendments to the law. He said provision of the Criminal Procedure code was amended to strengthen the arm of crime investigators. Police can now detain a suspect for 48 hours subject to other restrictions. Minister Seneviratne attributed laws delays as the main cause for the increase in serious crime. He said when people learn about the delays in the judicial system, they take the law into their hands to mete out summary punishment to offenders. He cited several examples where accused have been shot dead in court premises. The Minister further said to minimise delays in Magistrate courts, legislation had been introduced to do away with the non-summery proceedings. The Attorney General has been empowered to serve indictments on accused with regard to grave crime committed under special circumstances. Steps have also been taken to implement capital punishment. The minister is of the view that a number of service deserters have taken to big time crime because of easy money. The service deserters are responsible for committing grave crime today. When they desert they also take along the firearms issued to them. Crime has also taken a new phenomenon with the advent of cellular mobile technology. Cellular phones are often used to commit grave crime. Meanwhile the 18th amendment to the constitution has been proposed by the Justice Minister to increase the cadre of judges to the Court of Appeal. A two third majority is needed in parliament to amend the constitution. Steps have also been taken to expedite work related to the Government
Analyst Department. A new building with modern technology for DNA testing
would be established at Battaramulla. Sections of the department dealing in
Food, Alcohol, Narcotics, Firearms and Explosives will be decentralised. In
fact the Minister has proposed to increase the cadre of the department in
the future. |
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