Draft supervision law clarifies norms for new detention system

BEIJING, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- China's draft supervision law, which is under its second review at the top legislature, has included major revisions to standardize the new detention system, which is designed to replace the practice of "shuanggui" to ensure the rights of detained suspects.

The family and work unit of detained suspects should be notified of the detention within 24 hours, said a report to the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee's bi-monthly session, scheduled to run Friday to Wednesday.

Exceptions can only be made when there is danger of collusion, evidence or witness tampering or other forms of obstruction to the investigation, according to the draft.

The draft clarifies the previous provision, which vaguely stated that exceptions could be made under "circumstances that could obstruct investigation."

The draft was submitted to the top legislature for its first reading in June.

China announced its decision to replace the practice of "shuanggui" with detention, during the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in October, as reform of the national supervision system deepens.

Shuanggui is an intra-party disciplinary practice, exercised by Party disciplinary officials, where CPC members under investigation must cooperate with questioning at a set time and place.

The new system adds clarity to detention practices. Enditem