Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Chinese military justice in the spotlight

Lt. Gen. Gu Junshan
Want China Times has an informative article about the People's Liberation Army's disciplinary process, arising from the current case of Lt. Gen. Gu Junshan. He has been charged with bribery, embezzlement, misuse of state funds and abuse of power. According to Peking University expert Zhuang Deshui,
once a high-ranking military official has been targeted by anti-graft authorities a seven-step process will be initiated: case acceptance, preliminary probe, case file establishment, case investigation, transfer to judicial authorities, indictment, and trial.
China's military courts are divided into three levels: grassroot military courts, military region and branch military courts, and the PLA Military Court. Despite the different levels, the processes in the various levels are reportedly the same, with judgments required to be handed down within two months after the conclusion of the trial and no more than three months at the latest. In major or complex cases the deadline may be extended with the permission of a higher court.
. . . Zhuang believes as long as the case does not involve state secrets or classified information the military should try to be as transparent as possible to increase public trust and heighten awareness within the PLA itself.

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