(KPL) During the Inaugural Session of the 10th National Assembly on 24 March, Mr Bounchom Oubonpaseuth, a Member of the National Assembly (MNA) for Constituency 13, Savannakhet Province, raised critical concerns regarding transparency and persistent gaps within the judicial system.

His comments targeted the performance of the courts and the Office of the People’s Prosecutor.

The key issues highlighted include a significant backlog of pending cases, with a high volume remaining unresolved in the courts without a clear strategy for resolution. This ongoing issue severely undermines public trust in the justice system and requires a concrete, actionable plan.

Questions were also raised regarding inconsistencies in drug case rulings and the lack of uniformity between the Courts of First Instance and the Courts of Appeal. Specifically, in several drug-related cases, the lower court ordered the seizure of assets, such as vehicles, as state property, only for the Appellate Court to overturn the decision and return the assets. This creates confusion between the Law on Drugs and the Law on Ownership, leading the public to doubt official transparency.

Perhaps the most alarming issue raised was corruption and the manipulation of case files. In Savannakhet, instances were found where certain prosecutors conspired with defendants to alter facts. For example, in cases where 30 pills of narcotics were seized, records were falsified to show only two pills to lighten the sentencing significantly.

In light of these findings, lawmakers proposed that relevant authorities reconsider disciplinary and legal measures against officials involved in misconduct.

Mr Bounchom Oubonpaseuth emphasised that the current practice of simply issuing warnings is insufficient and called for harsher sentences. Officials found guilty of corruption or falsifying records should face penalties significantly harsher than those applied to ordinary citizens.

The goal of these proposals is to crack down on corruption, ensure accountability, and restore public faith in the rule of law.

KPL