Viktor Bérces: Evidence in Criminal Proceedings
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Chapter X. The possibilities of excluding evidence and the conditions for indictment at the prosecution (intermediate) stage
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10.5. The indictment. Who is entitled to prosecute and what are the charging documents?
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10.5.2. Consequences of the absence of a statutory charge

10.5.2. Consequences of the absence of a statutory charge

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Under the current Criminal Code, the absence of a statutory charge means that the charge document does not contain the mandatory elements of the charge as defined by the Criminal Code. The court must examine these circumstances of its own motion throughout the proceedings.

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If the charge is unlawful, it raises an interesting question as to whether there is room for the same charge to be brought again. Hungarian judicial practice and jurisprudence have given the following divergent answers to this question:

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  • According to the opinion of the Metropolitan Court of Appeal, (1) the re-submission of the same charge after the proceedings have been terminated due to an unlawful accusation violates the prohibition of double assessment (ne bis in idem); (2) the subsequent proceedings of the court terminating the criminal proceedings due to the lack of a lawful accusation cannot meet the requirement of impartiality.1
  • According to Erdei, the orders terminating proceedings issued on the grounds of the illegality of the accusation are no different in their legal force from other decisions terminating proceedings, i.e. they are final, erga omnes and have the effect of ne bis in idem. The author assumes that the requirement of the legality of the accusation is of guaranteeing importance and that the possibility of a new accusation may be of particular concern if the illegality of the previous accusation is due to substantive defects. In such a case, the risk of error must be borne by the State – even at the cost of the criminal claim being lost. In such cases, the author considers that, on balance, only the possibility of an extraordinary remedy is acceptable.2
  • Lévay argues that (1) the possibility of reindictment cannot be deduced from the rules of the Criminal Code, (2) in a state governed by the rule of law, the risk of prosecution is borne by the state, (3) an act of the prosecutor (see reindictment) cannot dissolve the res iudicata effect of a judicial decision (see termination of proceedings).
  • Contrary to the above positions, in its Opinion 1/2007 BK, the Supreme Court explained that, although by terminating the prosecution for lack of legality or legal requirement, the court decides on the prosecution – thus acknowledging its nature as a decision maker in the case – the legal nature of this decision is different from the decision to terminate the prosecution for other reasons. In this case, the court is clearly only examining or ruling on the admissibility of the charge (the existence of procedural requirements) and not on the substantive legal requirements of the charge which give rise to criminal liability. It follows, however, that the procedural unsuitability of an accusation as an obstacle to prosecution does not also constitute an insuperable obstacle to the prosecution of the person concerned.3

Jegyzet elhelyezéséhez, kérjük, lépj be.!

According to the Supreme Court, the dismissal of an indictment for lack of legality or legal sufficiency does not have substantive legal effect as regards criminal liability. This can only be the case with an exhausted charge, in respect of the offence prosecuted. In such cases, the court will therefore not rule on the criminal claim only because of the impediment to proceedings, i.e. it will not (yet) rule on the merits of the act charged. On this basis, there is no statutory bar to the accuser bringing a new prosecution against the defendant for the act he has previously prosecuted, notwithstanding the entry into force of the termination order within the limitation period.4

Jegyzet elhelyezéséhez, kérjük, lépj be.!

The summary report of the Criminal Chamber of the Curia’s jurisprudence analysis group on the legality of the charge states that the charge is not a constitutive decision, so it cannot in itself determine the post-trial position of the accused.5

Jegyzet elhelyezéséhez, kérjük, lépj be.!

The legislator has clearly decided on this issue, as the Be. provides for termination in the form of a “non-adjudicatory order” in the case of failure to make good deficiencies in supplies.6 However, the law still does not explicitly address the admissibility, conditions and possible limitations of a retrial. However, the explanatory memorandum of the legislation makes it clear that this decision – which is not a final decision – does not constitute a conviction and therefore cannot be a bar to a new prosecution.
1 This issue is dealt with in detail in AB Decision 33/2013 (XI. 22.).
2 Árpád Erdei: Dogmatika nélküli büntető eljárásjog – képtelenség vagy valóság. [Criminal procedure without dogmatics – nonsense or reality.] Magyar Jog, 2008/8. 518–519.
3 II. 4. a) –b)
4 Elek and Belovics also deny the substantive validity of the termination order for lack of a statutory charge. Cf. Balázs Elek: A jogerő egyes kérdései a büntetőeljárásban. [Certain questions of res judicata in criminal proceedings.]. In Tanulmányok Tóth Mihály Professzor Úr 60. születésnapja tiszteletére. [Studies in honour of the 60th birthday of Professor Mihály Tóth.] Pécs, PTE ÁJK, 2011. 561–567.
5 Curia BK Case Law Analysis Group 22.
6 § 492 (2) para.
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