China mulls removing death penalties for 9 crimes   

刑法修正案（九）草案擬取消9個死刑罪名

Beijing (ECNS) – China's lawmakers are considering removing capital punishment for nine offenses, including organizing prostitution and smuggling weapons and nuclear materials.

The state-run Xinhua News Agency reported that the draft amendment to the Criminal Law was submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) on Monday for a first reading.

The nine crimes are smuggling of weapons and ammunition, the smuggling of nuclear materials, the smuggling of counterfeit money, counterfeiting, fraudulent financing, organizing prostitution, forcing people into prostitution, obstructing military duties, and fabricating rumors during wartime.

The number of crimes that may lead to the death penalty would be cut to 46 if the revision is approved.

China removed capital punishment for 13 crimes in its last revision to the Criminal Law in 2011.