📌置頂文章📌 活動記錄:永社2023年轉型正義工作坊(活動已結束)

2017年8月6日 星期日

辦不了簽結的檢察官?

吳景欽(作者為真理大學法律系副教授兼系所主任、永社理事)

自由時報/自由廣場 2017.08.05
http://talk.ltn.com.tw/article/paper/1124624

北檢對中廣案調查,三中案似有被全面啟動之感。但此等案件於二○一四年,已由廢止的特偵組簽結,則對當時承辦的檢察官,甚至是核准的檢察總長,有否法律究責的可能性?

對檢察官濫行不起訴,刑法第一二五條第一項第三款,規定有法定刑一至七年有期徒刑的故為出入罪。只是此罪,主觀上必須明知為有罪之人,並於客觀上不使其受訴追或定罰,才足以該當。惟是否為有罪之人,若未經起訴,並經法院判罪定讞,實無從加以確定,且於不為起訴的場合,基於偵查不公開及當事人的隱私權保護,並不會對外公布其內容,任何人自無從檢視是否屬犯嫌重大,致須為起訴。

更糟的是,如三中案,之前特偵組乃是以簽結了事,由於此等手段於法無據,故案件形式上雖終結,卻可隨時重啟調查與起訴,若嚴格解釋刑法法條,恐也不能說檢方是故為不訴追。尤其國民黨以異於市場行情的價格賤賣黨產,目前於證券交易法第一七一條第一項第二款,雖規定有法定刑為三至十年、非法所得超過一億,甚至可處七年以上有期徒刑的非常規交易罪,但因此罪乃是針對已發行有價證券的公司負責人,則在政黨不可能是上市公司下,此罪也無用武之地,致僅能以法定刑較低、即五年以下有期徒刑的刑法背信罪論處。

只是,基於私法自治及資產價值的不確定性,再加以時日久遠、證據多已喪失下,即便北檢起訴,是否會遭法院定罪,實也屬未定之天。顯見,要藉由刑法的故為出入罪對檢察官究責,實有如登天之難,致僅能寄望於行政懲戒。

惟依現行制度,必須先經由檢察官評鑑委員會審查,即便不論此委員會是否能公正、獨立行使職權,但依據法官法第三十六條第一項,對個案評鑑之請求,必須在兩年內為之;也就是說,對檢察官的評鑑時效,竟比公務員懲戒法的五年懲戒時效還短,致使司法人員比其他公務員享有更大的保障。

更慘的是,此短短的兩年時效,按理應從判決確定時起算,卻被解釋為從偵結起算。則如三中案簽結,早已超過此時日下,不管此案將來結果,檢察官肯定不會有受懲戒之可能,致使究責機制完全破功。

2017年8月3日 星期四

釋字第752號的過與不及

吳景欽(作者為真理大學法律系副教授兼系所主任、永社理事)

民報/專欄 2017.08.02
http://www.peoplenews.tw/news/46040bef-78ed-4746-a880-e7dba9ed515e

大法官日前做出釋字第752號解釋,針對現行犯輕本刑3年以下有期徒刑或竊盜罪者,於第一審判無罪、第二審改判有罪,卻不得上訴第三審的刑事訴訟法第376條之規定,因未能提供至少一次的救濟機會,致侵害人民的訴訟權,故從解釋文公布之日失效。如此的解釋,乃為深化訴訟權保障所必然的結果,雖值讚賞,卻也有過與不及之處。

由於最高法院乃終局審判機關且只有一個,為了減輕負擔且集中於重大案件之審理,才有刑事訴訟法第376條,限制非重罪不得上訴第三審之規定。惟如竊盜罪,於第一審判決無罪,卻在第二審遭逆轉有罪之場合,因不能上訴第三審而確定,致出現毫無救濟機會的窘境。雖然,針對確定判決,仍可以非常上訴或再審為救濟,但由於此等訴訟途徑的要件極為嚴格,實有等於無,故面對此種未能提供至少一次救濟機會的規定,釋字第752號就認定違憲,致須於公布日立即失效。

對於此號解釋宣告違憲的效力,針對聲請解釋的原因案件一,因於上訴期間提起上訴第三審,卻遭第二審法院裁定駁回,因此裁定僅屬於程序問題,故無實質確定力,故在本解釋宣告後,此裁定自動失效,第二審法院必須主動將此案件移送至第三審法院審理。至於原因案件二,因未於提起上訴,故可在本解釋宣告後,於法定十日上訴期間內提起上訴。

更值一提的是,本號解釋更將效力及於相類案件已經第二審判決,但尚未逾越十日上訴期間者,亦可上訴最高法院,且第二審法院就此等案件亦有曉示當事人提起之義務。這樣的效力擴張,或能達成有權利、必有救濟的目的,卻肯定踩踏了法安定性的紅線,也使大法官正式成為第四審。則在法律尚未修正,大法官解釋具有個案效力下,如此自我擴張解釋文的效力,是否太過、是否逾越憲法的界限,恐是本號解釋太過急進之處。這也讓人想起,此次司改國是會議所提出,沿襲德國法制的憲法訴訟制度,而讓大法官介入個案判決違憲的建議,是否已在釋字第752號解釋裡得到實踐?若果如此,是否也代表,司改國是會議的建議,顯屬多餘?

而除了解釋文效力擴張外,其餘部分的解釋,卻顯得保守。由於聲請此號解釋的原因案件,一涉及性騷擾罪、一涉及竊盜罪,兩者乃屬刑事訴訟法第376條第1、2款之事由,被宣告違憲自屬當然,但此條文所列其他五款不得上訴第三審的罪名,是否亦可一體適用,此解釋基於不告不理,未予說明,致留有遺憾。至於在允許原不得上訴第三審之案件上訴後,若發回更審仍判有罪,是否仍可上訴,於解釋文中亦未能看出端倪。凡此問題,除非立法者立即修改法律,否則,就會留下後續的爭執與訴訟。

又此號解釋認為,於第一、二審皆判有罪而不得上訴第三審的場合,因已給予一次的救濟機會,致屬於立法形成自由的範疇,故不違憲。惟於第二審判比第一審更重,卻不得救濟之場合,是否真無侵害訴訟權,實有相當之疑問。

更須思考的是,目前對第一審已判被告無罪的任何案件,為何擁有絕對證據優勢的檢察官仍可上訴,而要等到第二審判決無罪,才依刑事妥速審判法第9條第1項不得上訴,或許才是造成被告訴訟權核心受侵害的主因。此癥結於釋字第752號完全未觸及,卻是未來修法,立法者必須審慎面對的嚴肅課題。

2017年8月2日 星期三

婦聯會和解 隱匿應罰兩倍

黃帝穎(作者為律師、永社理事)

自由時報/自由廣場 2017.08.01
http://talk.ltn.com.tw/article/paper/1123530

婦聯會日前回文內政部,同意捐贈三一二億元的資產繳國庫,但也開出「同意不再依據黨產條例等規定對婦聯會暨其捐贈成立的組織及其財產進行任何主張」等要求,社會譁然。

對此,黨產會官員指出,婦聯會發函內政部中所提要求,只是婦聯會自己的意見,婦聯會要求黨產會不准再查其相關組織,已經觸犯黨產會的底線。確實,以德國實踐「轉型正義」為例,就算政府與政黨達成訴訟上和解,國家也不會放棄對黨產的追查,更不會沒條件地和解。

一九九五年,德國民主社會主義黨(由前東德共黨幹部組成)和德國獨立委員會(相當於我國黨產會)達成訴訟上和解,該黨同意放棄對前共黨所有的財產主張,只保存其中央黨部等少數財產,但最重要的是,雙方和解協議中附加條件,約定若有隱匿黨產,民主社會主義黨應罰兩倍賠償。在此之後,德國獨立委員會雖與民主社會主義黨和解,但德國獨立委員會仍以超過十年的時間追查黨產。

從德國民主經驗可知,婦聯會的主張毫無正當性,就算內政部與婦聯會和解,但和解內容顯不能拘束黨產會繼續追查其相關不當黨產。尤其甚者,內政部與婦聯會的和解,更可附條件,如婦聯會除了帳面上的三一二億元外,另有隱匿財產者,應罰款兩倍,繳交國庫、還財於民。

2017年7月31日 星期一

東南亞模式將被打破?

吳景欽(作者為真理大學法律系副教授兼系所主任、永社理事)

自由時報/自由廣場 2017.07.30
http://talk.ltn.com.tw/article/paper/1122999

又有十八名台籍詐欺犯從泰國遣返回台受審,卻有另一批二十五名台籍人士將被移送至中國。這是否意謂著,台灣人遣台、中國人遣中的處理模式,已因兩岸關係的冷凍出現變化?

二○一一年初,菲律賓將十四名台籍詐欺犯遣送中國受審,引發我國人民激憤,我政府就與對岸協商,將此批人士遣送回台。二○一三年,除與菲律賓簽訂刑事司法互助協定外,也與印尼、馬來西亞等國進行個案合作,致逐漸形成台人遣台、中人遣中的東南亞模式。

惟這類域外的電信詐欺,由於犯罪行為地與結果地皆不在台灣,故在遣返回台時,他國若證據提供不完整,就會陷入訴追困境。尤其是所有被害人在中國,在不可能傳喚出庭的情況下,就只能由對岸提供卷證,這不僅無法保證其可信度,更完全得視中方的臉色。

其次,刑法針對電信詐欺,即第三三九條之四第三款,法定刑提升為一至七年的有期徒刑;但根據刑法第七條,域外犯罪須是屬最輕本刑三年以上有期徒刑者,才為刑法效力所及。除非將兩岸認定是一個中國,否則,這些域外的電信詐欺犯,我實也無任何管轄權。既稱為東南亞模式,則未與台灣有接觸的國家,台籍人犯肯定就會被遣送至中國。如去年的肯亞或今年初的西班牙事件,即是顯例。

去年十一月,立法院增訂刑法第五條第十一款,將刑法第三三九條之四的加重詐欺罪列入域外犯罪的管轄權範疇,並於今年三月修正組織犯罪防制條例第二條,將集團詐欺列入組織犯罪的範圍,以提高處罰的刑度。凡此修正,就可使域外的電信詐欺犯罪納入我國刑事管轄權之內。

惟國際刑事管轄權之競合,除逮捕地的所在國外,到底哪個國家有優先權,既有國勢強弱的現實,更有犯罪防制的考量。以近來兩起電信詐欺案比較,對於已遣返回台者來說,就是由我方主動與泰國合作。相對而言,即將遣至中國的人犯,就完全是由中方提供資訊。

也因此,泰國在處理電信詐欺事件,到底要將台人移往何方,除必然受到中國的干預與影響外,我方的證據提供是否充分、能否確保訴追與定罪,或許更是能否成功遣返的關鍵。

2017年7月27日 星期四

Prosecutorial checks and balances

Wu Ching-chin 吳景欽

(Wu Ching-chin is an associate professor, chair of Aletheia University’s law department and director of Taiwan Forever Association)
(作者為真理大學法律系副教授兼系主任、永社理事)

Translated by Julian Clegg

TAIPEI TIMES / Editorials 2017.07.26
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2017/07/26/2003675303

On Monday last week, the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office searched the home and office of former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Central Policy Committee director Alex Tsai (蔡正元) in connection with an investigation involving three companies formerly connected with the KMT: Central Motion Picture Corp (中影), China Television Co (中視) and Broadcasting Corp of China (中廣). The Taipei District Court approved the prosecutors’ application for Tsai to be detained on the grounds that there was strong evidence of his involvement in criminal activity.

However, the same case had previously been investigated by the now-defunct Special Investigation Division (SID) of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, which closed its investigation without seeking an indictment. That the investigation should now be launched anew raises questions about the independence of prosecutorial authorities.

The case involves the possibility that KMT assets were improperly disposed of and transferred. It was in 2006 that somebody reported the matter to the black gold investigation action center — an anti-corruption unit subordinate to the Taiwan High Prosecutors’ Office. The following year, the case was handed over to the center’s successor organization — the then-newly established SID. The SID’s mission was to investigate senior government officials and wealthy businesspeople.

The Prosecutor General, who is head of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, holds that position for a fixed term of four years and cannot serve a second term. It was thought that this setup would maintain a space for the independent exercise of prosecutorial power, as well as concentrate resources to take swifter and more effective legal action in major cases of corruption and economic crimes.

Because the case of the three companies involved transfers of KMT assets through diverse and complicated transactions, it would be a test of the SID’s expertise and efficiency. However, having started its investigation into the case, the SID went on investigating it for seven or eight years. Not until 2014 did it wind up its investigation, saying that it had not discovered anything illegal. Although it offered a detailed explanation of this decision in the form of a case table, it gave rise to more questions regarding matters such as embezzlement and breach of trust in connection with the already convoluted handling of the assets. Even without considering whether the SID’s explanation was reasonable, by letting the case drag on for so long before finally closing it down, the SID did not demonstrate any expertise or efficiency. On the contrary, the SID’s handling of the case left it open to accusations it was protecting those in high office and it was the main reason the SID was consigned to the history books.

Because closure of a case is not defined in the Code of Criminal Procedure (刑事訴訟法), it does not have the force of a decision not to indict, which is so defined and engenders the restriction that prosecutors cannot make a new indictment unless new evidence is discovered. That is why the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office has been able to investigate the case and make indictments following the abolition of the SID on Jan. 1.

However, last week’s large-scale searches apparently result from accusations made by the Ill-gotten Party Assets Settlement Committee in April, and this makes one wonder whether prosecutors, be it the former SID or the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office, take action based on evidence or on which way the political wind is blowing.

The way this case has been handled, from the closure of the investigation three years ago to the renewed investigation, not only raises questions about prosecutors’ independence, but also exposes the existing situation under which prosecutorial authorities are not subject to external oversight.

Preparatory work is underway for the National Congress on Judicial Reform, of which people have high expectations for judicial democratization.

In view of situations such as this, one might question whether the remit of the congress should be extended to include constraints on prosecutorial authority. This could be achieved by following the US system, under which, when prosecutors wish to bring charges for major offenses, a grand jury composed of members of the public must decide whether they qualify for indictment.

Alternatively, Taiwan could follow the Japanese system, under which a prosecutorial review commission (kensatsu shinsakai) composed of members of the public deliberates as to whether prosecutors have acted inappropriately in cases where they decide not to bring charges. Both these systems function as preventive measures against abuse of prosecutorial power.