CHINA is considering trimming nine crimes from the list of offenses punishable by death.

    A draft amendment to China’s Criminal Law, which includes the use of the death penalty, was submitted for initial review to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, which is holding its bi-monthly session that began yesterday and runs until Saturday.

    Crimes that would be exempt from capital punishment under the amendment include “smuggling weapons, ammunition, nuclear materials or counterfeit currencies; counterfeiting currencies; raising funds by means of fraud; and arranging for or forcing another person to engage in prostitution.”

    The crimes of “obstructing a commander or a person on duty from performing his duties” and “fabricating rumors to mislead others during wartime,” are also under review.

    After removing the death penalty for these crimes, convicts will face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, according to the draft. The amendment also provides stricter rules for the execution of convicts who have been sentenced to death with reprieve.

    Once the proposal is adopted, it will become the second time for China to reduce the number of crimes punishable by death since the Criminal Law took effect in 1979.

    In 2011, the NPC Standing Committee dropped the death penalty for 13 economic-related nonviolent crimes including smuggling cultural relics, gold and silver; and carrying out fraudulent activities related to financial bills.

    Under the current Criminal Law, the number of crimes punishable by death is 55.(Xinhua)

    (More on P4)