Mongolia's Legal Standing Committee Chairman is facing criticism for proposing to shorten the limitation period for taking legal action in criminal law.
This comes after a court decision that dismissed a bribery case involving two former government inspectors who were caught with $200,000 cash bribe in 2017 but were only fined $15,000 due to the expiration of the statute of limitations.
The public backlash against the legal standing committee chairman is due to concerns that his proposal could result in the closure of other high-profile bribery cases.
Former Justice Vice-Minister has warned that corruption cases related to the state-owned Development Bank could be closed due to the expiration of the limitation period.
The low conviction rate in Mongolia is also a cause for concern. According to the OECD, the conviction rate in Mongolia is only 8%, while the number of corruption probes has quadrupled in the last three years. In addition, 41% of all cases in 2018 were dismissed at the pre-trial stage.
The proposed change to the criminal law's limitation period could exacerbate Mongolia's corruption problem by limiting the time frame for legal action against corrupt officials. This could result in fewer successful prosecutions and undermine public trust in the justice system.
Mongolia's government must prioritize strengthening its legal system to combat corruption effectively. This includes improving the capacity and independence of the judiciary and increasing resources for law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute corrupt officials.
In conclusion, Mongolia's proposed changes to the limitation period for taking legal action in criminal law could have serious consequences for the country's fight against corruption. It is crucial for the government to address the systemic issues that contribute to corruption and ensure that the justice system is equipped to hold corrupt officials accountable.