In the Almaty region, the case of a man sentenced to 7 years in prison for illegal drug trafficking will be reviewed. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Sputnik Kazakhstan.
Earlier, the appellate court left the first-instance verdict unchanged. However, during the study of the case, the Prosecutor General's Office found that the convict's right to defense was grossly violated.
How was the convict's right violated?
Due to deteriorating health, the convict could not participate in court debates and could not exercise the right to the last word provided by law. This is stated in the message of the Prosecutor General's Office.
Decision of the cassation court
Based on the prosecutor's conclusion, the cassation court overturned the previously issued court acts and sent the criminal case for reconsideration.
Guarantees of a fair trial
According to the Prosecutor General's Office, the convict's participation in court debates and the right to the last word are considered one of the mandatory guarantees of a fair trial.