The House of Representatives passed a controversial bill Friday to allow crime victims to directly question defendants in court, prompting legal experts to express deep concern that the measure could undermine the criminal justice system and foster feelings of revenge.
The bill to revise the criminal procedure law was approved by a majority vote of not only the ruling bloc — the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito — but also the Democratic Party of Japan in the Lower House judicial affairs committee Friday, and cleared the chamber later in the afternoon.
The legislation will be handed over to the Upper House for deliberation and is expected to be enacted during the current Diet session. If the bill is passed, it will enable people victimized by crime, including kin of victims, to sit with prosecutors and question defendants or witnesses in court. They will also be allowed to offer opinions on the penalty to be meted out.