A closed-door cross-party meeting yesterday failed to iron out resistance to two proposed amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure that has passed its first reading in the legislature's Judiciary Committee.
A showdown vote now appears inevitable if proponents insist on pressing ahead with a legal overhaul that aims to ease the burden of proof on defendants.
If made into law, the proposed amendments will allow trial judges to dismiss criminal cases where they believe the prosecutors stand a slim chance of proving the defendants guilty.
"A vote is tentatively set for Tuesday as major caucuses failed to reach a consensus on the bill," said Weng Wang-ying (
Both the KMT and the PFP have expressed their support for the bill which has the conditional blessing of the ruling DPP but is boycotted by the New Party.
Weng said that the PFP backed the proposal on the grounds that it will help promote the nation's human-rights record.
They also seek to give defendants and their lawyers access to evidence obtained during investigations and the right to question witnesses during investigations, if necessary.
New Party's legislator Hsieh Chi-ta (
"The suggested revisions would definitely help the judge remain neutral when weighing criminal cases," Hsieh said. "But they would also enable them to pass the burden of proof onto prosecutors."
A former judge, Hsieh said it would be reckless for the country to introduce the proposed judicial reform without concomitant measures -- such as a sharp increase in the number of prosecutors.
Tsai Pi-yu (蔡碧玉), a Ministry of Justice spokesman, agreed, saying that the ministry would have to triple the number of prosecutors from 600 to 1,800 for the proposed reforms feasible.
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