Thaindian News

Beijing, May 2 (ANI): China’s newly revised Criminal Law has exempted 13 crimes from the death penalty.

The crimes that are no longer punishable by death are mainly financial and non-violent in nature, and include tax fraud and “fraudulent activities involving financial bills”.

Also wiped from the list of crimes punishable by death are the smuggling of cultural relics and dealing in endangered wildlife, the China Daily reports.

The newly implemented regulations are the eighth amendment to the Criminal Law and had been submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress for first review last August.

After three rounds of discussions and approvals, the amendments took effect on Sunday.

According to the newly revised criminal law, the death penalty will not be imposed on people who are 75 or older at the time of their trials, unless they are convicted of crimes involving “exceptional cruelty”.

The changes aim to “temper justice with mercy” and “embody the humanity of the country”, said Li Guifang, vice-head of the criminal defense committee under the All China Lawyers Association.

China also makes changes to the Road Traffic Safety Law. The revisions to that law stipulate that people caught driving while drunk will have their licenses revoked and cannot apply for a new one for five years.

The newly revised Criminal Law also makes possible more severe punishments, including the death penalty, for people who produce and sell tainted and unsafe food.

The food safety amendments to the Criminal Law also specify that members of food safety watchdogs will receive criminal punishments if they are found to have abused their power or failed to carry out their duties. (ANI)