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Parliament shoots down amendment to soften contempt of court bill
Published on Monday, 04 February 2013 12:14
The Lower House has rejected a proposal to amend draft legislation on contempt of court so that those found guilty of the offence would not face prison sentences. The bill was submitted on January 28 by MP Thein Nyunt, who represents Thingangyun Township, and voted down.
Those found guilty of contempt of court will face six months in jail, a fine of up to 100,000 kyats or both if the bill submitted by the Chief of the Union Supreme Court on August 15 last year passes Parliament in its current form. Under the draft legislation defendants who apologise will not be punished.
Thein Nyunt’s amendment calling for the removal of prison terms as a punishment was one of seven he proposed, six of which were defeated.
The MP said the draft legislation was undemocratic, like the country’s first legislation on contempt of court, which was enacted in 1926. The draft legislation provides too much protection for judges and is inappropriate during the transition to democracy, Thein Nyunt said.