Supreme Procuratorate issues rules to protect lawyers'rights

China's Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) on Monday released a regulation to better protect lawyers' rights to meet suspects and read case files.

According to the rules, lawyers are now eligible to meet suspects at the investigation stage, as long as any factors that may hamper the investigation have been cleared.

The regulation upholds that procuratorate authority representatives must not attend the meetings between lawyers and suspects nor monitor the meetings in any way.

However, in certain cases lawyers must apply for a permit to meet suspects. The rules stress that in the case of major graft cases, to meet the suspects during the investigation stage, lawyers should apply for an assent from procuratorates. Lawyers must be given an answer within three days of applying for the permit.

The regulation also says procuratorates must ensure lawyers have access to case files and provide support equipment, such as copying and recording devices.

Should prosecutors violate the rules and prevent lawyers from meeting suspects, they will be held accountable and punished, according to the regulation.

Respecting and protecting lawyers' practicing rights will not only prevent miscarriages of justice but will also enhance judicial transparency, said Wan Chun, a senior SPP official in charge of legal policy research.