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Friday, Dec 27, 2024
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Prosecutors on fiat required to sign DoJ letters to observe national security law: sources
The briefed-out counsels were required to sign a letter from the Department of Justice, which required them to duly observe the national security law and refrain from engaging in any activities that may be regarded as contrary to national security interests, according to sources.
Since the anti-extradition protests in 2019, hundreds of protest-related trials involving thousands of defendants have added to the department’s workload. A number of barristers in private practice have been hired to take up prosecution jobs on behalf of the government.
These prosecutors on fiat reported receiving letters from the DoJ advising them to safeguard national security and observe confidentiality agreements when handling brief-out cases.
The department also said the government’s briefed-out counsels must ensure they do not have any conflict of interest with the cases they are assigned.
Sources said they are required to sign the letter and submit to the department by December 5. Those who refused might be removed from the DoJ’s briefed-out counsels list, the sources added.
These prosecutors on fiat reported receiving letters from the DoJ advising them to safeguard national security and observe confidentiality agreements when handling brief-out cases.
The department also said the government’s briefed-out counsels must ensure they do not have any conflict of interest with the cases they are assigned.
Sources said they are required to sign the letter and submit to the department by December 5. Those who refused might be removed from the DoJ’s briefed-out counsels list, the sources added.
