ANKARA (AA) - Turkish parliament adopted on Saturday the draft Code of Criminal Procedure (CMK).
The code regulates the rules of the criminal courts and the authorities, rights and liabilities of the persons who are tried by these courts.
Under this new law, information about a crime can't be kept secret in the court, saying it is ''the secrecy of the state.''
The new law envisages protection of those who witness in lawsuits regarding organizational crimes.
The latest changes include requiring police to obtain written permission from a judge or prosecutor to conduct searches in suspects' homes or other premises. Currently officers only need a go-ahead from their superiors.
Police would also be required to immediately read a detainee his or her rights, and suspects would no longer be held for more than 24 hours without charges. Police would be forced to notify a family member of the detention.
Detainees suspected of crimes that carry punishment of less than two years would no longer be imprisoned for the duration of the trial.
Under this new law, female detainees will be able to ask for female doctors if they object to male ones.
Among other changes, the amendments would allow police to eavesdrop on people suspected of trafficking drugs or humans, murder, sexual assault, child abuse, fraud, treason or spying, as a last resort and only after obtaining permission from a judge or a prosecutor.
The amendments also improve court proceedings, introducing for example direct cross-examination rights to lawyers and prosecutors. Previously, questions were addressed to the judge, who then relayed them to a witness or defendant.
The law will enter into force on April 1st, 2005.
(BRC)
2004-12-05