The Federal National Council (FNC) yesterday approved the amendments made to Federal Law No. 35 for 1992 on penal code procedures before announcing the councils recess for summer.
Announcing the recess, Speaker Saeed Mohammed Al Ghandi, on behalf of house members and the secretariat staff, thanked President His Highnes Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Their Highnesses the Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the emirates, Cabinet members, various departments and organisations for their support to help the council perform its duties.
The council appreciates the guidance and uninterrupted support extended to the FNC by Sheikh Zayed, Their Highnesses the Supreme Council Members and the government, the Speaker said.
He also assured the Supreme Council and the Federal Government the councils reiteration to continue performing its duties honestly when the council meets after the recess.
The council is likely to end its recess under a similar decree issued by the President to summon it in January.
The last session of the summer was also attended by Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Minister of Economy and Commerce, and Mohammed Nakhira Al Dhaheri, Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs and Awqaf.
The council completed its debate on the amendments made in the Federal Law No. 35 for 1992 on penal code procedures. The government has made amendments in 51 articles of the law, all approved by the council with further minor changes.
The council began its debate on the amendments last month.
A joint Ministry of Justice and council committee revised the government-proposed amendments, and the Ministry of Justice finalised the draft which was approved by the council.
The draft was referred to the joint committee during the session last month, following deadlocks on a number of articles between the members themselves and between the government and the members.
One of the most controversial articles, causing lengthy debate, was Article 20, which stipulates that a penal case ceases in four instances, namely: when the accused dies, when a verdict is passed, when the victim pardons the culprit or when the penal article is cancelled.
The government draft also stated that the case can be dropped after five years in instances of misdemeanors and two years in cases of violations.
Article 16 of the law states that a plaintiff can absolve an accused at any time before a verdict is passed and accordingly the case can be dropped.
But if there is more than one plaintiff, then absolving the accused by one of the plaintiffs will not be considered.
The whole group has to appear in court and collectively show their willingness to forgive the accused. If the plaintiff dies before the verdict is issued, then his heirs can sue the accused or forgive if they choose.
The council yesterday also discussed the employment of the UAE nationals in the insurance sector. The issue was raised in a motion tabled by six members of the council.
The members questioned the Ministry of Economy and Commerce as to why the number of UAE nationals in the sector was very small. They also asked the ministry to revise its policies to help implement job nationalisation in the insurance sector.
Member Abdullah Al Muwaiji recommended to establish an insurance institute to train the UAE nationals for insurance and banking fields. He also asked the government to force insurance companies to recruit more UAE nationals.
Responding to the questions raised by the members, Sheikh Fahim told the council that there has been an increase in the number of nationals in the sector. He said their presence will increase to 10 per cent of the total employees in the sector by next year.
The minister also informed the house that the government has initiated a strategy to increase the number of nationals in the sector by five per cent annually, which, he added, hopefully will show good results.
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