Draft law amendment to prevent malicious prosecution

A draft amendment to the Civil Procedure Law will allow a third party to bring action if civil rights and interests are infringed upon by malicious prosecution.

The draft is undergoing a third reading by the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, China's top legislature, at a bimonthly session that began Monday.

The draft includes a new clause that allows third parties to appeal court decisions if they have evidence to prove that the court's verdict, ruling or mediation has violated their rights and interests.

The draft also revises the amount of money people can sue for in small claims courts to 30 percent of the annual wage in the province, autonomous region or municipality that the case takes place in.