On 23 May, the House of Representatives adopted a bill on the Expansion of Competencies in Criminal Investigation and Prosecution. The bill, introduced with other anti-terrorism legislation, permits the use by investigating authorities of special surveillance powers where there is merely an “indication” as opposed to “reasonable suspicion” that a person has committed a criminal act. It also increases the maximum period of detention without charge from three to fourteen days and allow multiple extensions of pre-trial detention for up to 2 years. The Senate is expected to begin discussing the bill on 12 September.

 

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