China Laws
Beijing's newly amended criminal law now leaves young children in trouble
Beijing: China is amending its criminal law which will lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility in special circumstances, leaving no chance for young offenders as small as 12 years old to escape criminal punishment.
The change will take effect on March 1. It comes in response to a number of extreme cases, including intentional killing and intentional injury, committed by minors aged 14 and below that, shocking the nation, The Straits Times said.
Under the amendment, the age of criminal responsibility will remain unchanged at 16. However, juveniles aged 14 to 16 will also face criminal punishment if they commit crimes such as intentional homicide, intentional injury, rape or aggravated robbery, the newspaper reported.
The amended law stipulates that children aged 12 to 14 will now be held criminally liable for intentional homicide or intentional injury that leads to death or severe disability through "extremely cruel means", the news portal reported.
Xu Hao, a lawyer with the Jingsh Law Firm in Beijing, has welcomed the revision.
"That means many children aged 12 to 14, such as those in the highest grade of primary or middle school, can distinguish between right and wrong," he told The Straits Times.
"Therefore, lowering the age of criminal responsibility meets the physical and mental development of most adolescents," he said.
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