CAIRO, April 29 (MENA) - The House of Representatives gave its final approval to Egypt’s new Criminal Procedure Law.

This came during a plenary session held on Tuesday and chaired by Speaker Hanafy Gebaly. The law was drafted by a subcommittee under the House’s Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee.

Following a standing vote by the members, Gebaly announced that the required majority had been achieved, thereby confirming the law's final passage. This approval follows preliminary consent during a February 24 session and further revisions to certain articles in a recent session.

Key features of the new legislation include explicit protections for the sanctity of private homes, prohibiting entry, search, surveillance, or wiretapping without a substantiated judicial order specifying the location, timing, and purpose. It also places new limitations on law enforcement authorities regarding arrest, search of individuals, and home entries.

The law reaffirms the Public Prosecution’s exclusive role in initiating and managing criminal proceedings in accordance with Article 189 of the Constitution. It emphasizes the precautionary nature of pretrial detention by reducing its duration, setting a maximum limit, and requiring judicial justification for such detention. Furthermore, it introduces moral and reputational compensation for wrongful pretrial detention, mandating the publication of final acquittals or decisions not to pursue prosecution in widely circulated newspapers at the state's expense, while also setting clear mechanisms for financial compensation.

The legislation also introduces a modernized notification system, including the establishment of digital and phone-based notification centers linked to the Civil Status Authority, aiming to modernize judicial notifications and reduce issues related to name similarities by requiring national ID data to be recorded upon suspect identification. The law mandates that prosecutors record full identity details when a defendant appears for initial questioning.

Additionally, the law limits the issuance of travel bans and watch list entries to the Public Prosecutor or an authorized delegate, or a competent investigating judge. Such orders must be justified, time-bound, and subject to judicial review within 15 days of appeal.

It also incorporates provisions for remote investigations and trials using modern technologies to streamline legal procedures and ensure swift justice. It enhances legal protections for witnesses, whistleblowers, experts, victims, and defendants, reinforcing the right to legal defense by requiring the presence of a lawyer at all stages of investigation and trial, with the court or prosecution obliged to appoint one if none is present.

The law emphasizes the protection of women’s and children’s rights, support for persons with disabilities and the elderly. It further addresses international judicial cooperation in criminal matters and revises procedures for appealing judgments issued in absentia to reduce case backlogs while preserving the rights of defense and ensuring effective justice.
(MENA)
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