Vietnam proposes transferring Supreme People's Procuracy investigative powers

The Vietnamese government has proposed significant changes to the Law on Organization of Criminal Investigation Agencies (amended). During a session of the National Assembly Standing Committee on September 25, Deputy Minister of Public Security Pham The Tung presented the proposal.

A key component of the draft law is the recommendation to abolish the Investigation Agency of the Supreme People's Procuracy. If approved, its investigative authority would be transferred to the Security Investigation Agency under the Ministry of Public Security. Similarly, the authority of the Investigation Agency of the Central Military Procuracy would be transferred to the Security Investigation Agency under the Ministry of National Defence.

The draft also proposes expanding the investigative powers of agencies within the People's Public Security and the People's Army to handle other crimes as assigned by their respective ministers, aiming to ensure objectivity in practical case resolutions. Additionally, the proposal includes updates to the names and responsibilities of agencies involved in investigative activities, such as Customs, Forest Protection, and Fisheries, to align with new organizational structures. For certain agencies like Customs and Forest Protection, the proposal suggests limiting their authority to initiating cases and conducting specific investigative activities within a seven-day period.