The lower chamber of the Kazakh parliament gave its...

The lower chamber of the Kazakh parliament gave its approval of amendments to the country's Criminal, Criminal Procedural and Criminal Executive codes. Deputy Justice Minister Irak Yelekeyev, who presented the bill to deputies, said that the amendments are aimed at making criminal legislation more humane and are expected to reduce the number of prison inmates.
Yelekeyev noted that the bill will significantly broaden the use of suspended sentences and will envision more lenient penalties for minor and medium-degree offences that do not pose any threat to society and do not carry a prison sentence. The bill also envisions introducing a system of alternative penalties.
In some cases, an offender will be placed under supervision from one to five years at his place of residence without isolating him from society. Additional obligations and restrictions will be imposed as well.
The amendments envision dropping criminal proceedings in the event of reconciliation between the two sides, except cases involving an attempt on human life and health. The bill also envisions banning the norm that carries punishment for exceeding self-defence if the crime involved an murder attempt.
The bill also introduces responsibility for torture. If the bill comes into force, it will decrease the use of the death penalty.
The death penalty will not be handed down to minors or women and men older that 65. The death penalty will not be carried out until one year after the court hands down a death sentence.
The deputies also approved amendments to legislation on the enforcement of the criminal Code.The approved amendments will be submitted to the Senate, parliament's upper chamber."