中国涉外刑事辩护实务（二）涉外刑事诉讼基本流程

本文作者：王馨仝 曹妍

本文作为中国涉外刑事辩护实务系列的第二篇，将介绍中国刑事诉讼基本流程，刑事强制措施以及针对外国人的特别规定。

外国人在中国境内涉嫌犯罪被调查后，常常因其不熟悉中国刑事案件的基本流程，对于自己涉案后需要面临什么感到惶恐无措。了解基本的刑事诉讼流程不仅可以避免当事人陷入对“未知”的恐惧，进而更加从容地应对随后的诉讼程序；而且也有利于让外籍当事人的家属更好跟进案件，及时为涉案人员提供帮助，争取最佳案件处理结果。

一、涉外刑事诉讼流程

外国人在华涉嫌刑事犯罪的案件大多属于公诉案件，即由人民检察院针对犯罪嫌疑人的行为向法院提起诉讼的案件。根据中国法律，涉外刑事公诉案件的基本流程与针对本国公民的基本一致，主要分为侦查阶段、审查起诉阶段和审判阶段。

（一）侦查阶段

外国人涉嫌犯罪的案件主要由公安机关侦办。在侦查阶段，公安机关对已立案的刑事案件进行侦查，即收集、调取犯罪嫌疑人有罪、无罪、罪轻或者罪重的证据材料。公安机关会传唤犯罪嫌疑人了解案情、制作笔录，也会对证人进行询问。公安机关在此阶段也可能会对犯罪嫌疑人采取限制或剥夺其自由的刑事强制措施（下文将详细介绍）。

自第一次被讯问或采取强制措施之日起，嫌疑人可以委托律师作为辩护人。在侦查阶段及时委托律师介入案件，律师通过会见可以掌握案件情况，为当事人争取取保候审的机会，为其提供法律帮助。

（二）审查起诉阶段

审查起诉阶段主要由人民检察院负责。检察院对于公安机关移送过来的涉案材料负责审查，如果犯罪事实清楚、证据确实充分且应当追究刑事责任的，检察院在审查起诉阶段结束时，会向法院提起公诉，将起诉书及涉案材料一同移送到法院。

经审查，若认为犯罪嫌疑人的行为不构成犯罪，则检察院会作出“不起诉”决定；若认为案件证据尚不够确实、充分，则可以将案件退回到公安机关进行补充侦查。

在此阶段，律师可以查阅、复制、摘抄全部案件材料，其中最重要的是公安机关的起诉意见书。律师可以根据起诉意见书的指控逻辑，结合证据材料，确定初步辩护方向，争取不起诉或者提出影响罪名和量刑的辩护意见。

（三）审判阶段

在审判阶段，法院要对案件进行开庭审理，由法官主持审判，检察院和律师分别作为控、辩两方出席庭审，通过法庭调查、举证质证、法庭辩论等环节，查明案件事实，结合证据及相关法律规定，判决被告人是否有罪、所犯罪名及所受刑罚。

中国实行两审终审制，对外籍被告人也不例外。如果被告人对一审判决结果不服，在收到判决书的10日内，有权提起上诉，启动二审程序。但检察院或被害人不服一审判决的，同样也有权提起抗诉。

律师在审判阶段可以查阅案卷材料，会见当事人，与当事人充分沟通，确定辩护或调查证据的方向。在庭审中，律师可以出庭对被告人、证人、被害人等进行发问，对检察官出示的证据予以审核，提出有利于当事人的驳斥理由、意见和证据，并与检察官进行辩论，发表辩护意见。

二、刑事强制措施

刑事强制措施贯穿于整个刑事诉讼流程，中国《刑事诉讼法》规定的五种刑事强制措施，即拘传、监视居住、取保候审、刑事拘留和逮捕，这些措施同等适用于涉嫌刑事犯罪的外国人，但基于其身份的特殊性，在对外国籍当事人适用前述强制措施时也存在一些特殊规定。

（一）拘传

拘传是指办案机关对未被羁押的犯罪嫌疑人、被告人，依法强制到案接受讯问的一种强制方法。拘传持续的时间不得超过十二小时；案情特别重大、复杂，需要采取拘留、逮捕措施的，拘传持续的时间不得超过二十四小时。

对于没有外交豁免权，但具有重要地位的社会知名人士及有影响的社会名流等需要拘传的可能要逐级层报，由公安部或最高人民法院会同外交部审批。

（二）监视居住

监视居住是指办案机关在刑事诉讼过程中对犯罪嫌疑人、被告人采用的，命令其不得随意离开居所，并对其活动予以监视和控制的一种强制措施。

如果在中国境内涉嫌刑事犯罪的外国人在华无长期固定居所或仅仅临时过境，则对其不适宜采取监视居住，但办案机关一般会对其限制出入境。

（三）取保候审

取保候审是指侦查机关责令犯罪嫌疑人提供担保人或交纳保证金，保证其不逃避或妨碍侦查，并随传随到的一种强制措施。

如果外籍嫌疑人无法提供保证金或保证人，根据中国已加入的《维也纳领事关系公约》的精神，当事人国籍国驻华使、领馆可以在遵守中国法律的前提下，为其本国公民提供担保。

（四）拘留

拘留是指公安机关、人民检察院对直接受理的案件，在侦查过程中，遇到法定的紧急情况时，对于正在预备犯罪、正在犯罪或者犯罪后即时被发觉的罪犯或者重大嫌疑分子所采取的临时剥夺其人身自由的强制方法。

刑事拘留的期限为三天，特殊情况可以延长一至四天。对于流窜作案、多次作案、结伙作案的重大犯罪嫌疑人，提出审批申请的可以延长至三十天。在拘留期限届满后，对于不需要逮捕的，会对其取保候审或者监视居住，需要逮捕的则必须向检察院申请批准逮捕，检察院有七天的时间来决定是否逮捕。前述时间加起来就是俗称的“黄金三十七天”，一旦检察院批准逮捕，之后再想申请取保候审，难度会很大，故在外籍当事人被拘留后到检察院批捕前，律师越早介入，越有利于促成取保候审。

中国法律规定，在执行拘留前，办案单位的主管公安机关应及时将外国籍当事人涉嫌犯罪的案情、处理意见呈报上级主管机关并抄送外交部。

外国籍当事人被拘留后，应及时通知被拘留人所属驻华使领馆。对于通知的时限规定，如果当事人所属国家已同我国签订有领事条约的，按条约规定办理。如未签订，则应在拘留24小时内通知。

（五）逮捕

逮捕是指办案机关为了防止犯罪嫌疑人或者被告人实施妨碍刑事诉讼的行为，逃避侦查、起诉、审判或者发生社会危险性，而依法剥夺其人身自由，对其羁押。逮捕犯罪嫌疑人、被告人，必须经过人民检察院批准或者人民法院决定，由公安机关执行。

上述内容是对于涉外刑事公诉案件基本流程和刑事强制措施进行的基本介绍，希望能够让涉嫌刑事犯罪的当事人和家属对此做到心中有数，避免因不了解在中国的刑事诉讼程序而惶恐不安，错失维护合法权益的最佳时机。

Fundamental Procedures of Criminal Proceedings for Foreigners--China’s Foreign-related Criminal Defense Practice(Part II)

As the second article in the series on China’s Foreign-related Criminal Defense Practice, this article will introduce the fundamental procedures of Chinese criminal proceedings, criminal compulsory measures, and special provisions for foreign individuals.

When foreigners are investigated for suspected crimes in China, they often feel overwhelmed due to their unfamiliarity with the fundamental procedures of China’s criminal proceedings and feel uncertain as to what to expect if they are involved in the case. Understanding the fundamental criminal procedures not only prevents the suspects or defendants from falling into the fear of the 'unknown', allowing them to cope with subsequent litigation procedures more calmly, but also enables foreign suspects' or defendants’ families to better follow up on the case and provide timely assistance for the best possible case outcomes.

I. Fundamental Procedures of Foreign-related Criminal Proceedings

Foreign individuals suspected of committing crimes in China are mostly subject to public prosecution cases, where the People's Procuratorate initiates lawsuits against criminal suspects in court. According to Chinese law, the fundamental procedures for foreign-related criminal public prosecution cases are generally similar to those for cases involving domestic citizens. The process mainly involves investigation, examination and prosecution, and trial stages.

1.1 Investigation Stage

Cases involving foreigners suspected of committing crimes are mainly investigated and handled by the public security organs. During the investigation stage, public security organs investigate the criminal cases that have been filed, that is, collect and obtain evidence materials regarding the guilt, innocence, misdemeanor, or leniency of the alleged criminal suspect. They may summon the suspect for interrogation, make records, and question witnesses to learn about the case. During this stage, public security organs may also impose criminal compulsory measures (further details will be elaborated in the subsequent text).

From the first interrogation or imposition of compulsory measures, the suspect has the right to engage 1-2 lawyers as defense counsels. Timely entrusting lawyers during the investigation stage allows the lawyer to learn the case through meeting suspects, obtain opportunities for the suspects to be released upon bail pending trial, and provide legal assistance promptly.

1.2 Examination and Prosecution Stage

The People's Procuratorate is mainly responsible for the examination and prosecution stage. The Procuratorate examines the case materials transferred by the public security organs. If the facts of the crime are clear, the evidence is hard and sufficient, and that the criminal suspect shall be subject to criminal liability, the Procuratorate will initiate public prosecution, submit the indictment and related materials to the court at the end of the examination and prosecution stage.

After examining, if the Procuratorate believes that the suspect's conducts do not constitute a crime, it may decide "not to initiate a prosecution." If the evidence is deemed insufficient, it may remand the case to a public security organ for supplementary investigation or conduct the investigation itself.

During this stage, lawyers can review the case materials, the most important of which is the prosecution opinion from the public security organ. Lawyers can determine the preliminary defense strategy based on the charging logic of the prosecution opinion and combined with the evidence materials and strive not to prosecute or present defense opinions affecting charges and sentencing.

1.3 Trial Stage

At the trial stage, the court holds a court session, with judges presiding over the trial, and the prosecutors and defense lawyers attend the trial as the prosecution and defense parties respectively. Through processes such as court investigations, adducing evidence, cross-examination, and debating in court, the facts of the case will be ascertained and combined with the evidence and relevant legal provisions, and renders a judgment on the guilt or not, accusations, and penalties for the accused.

China implements the system whereby the second instance is final, and foreign defendants are no exception. If the defendant refuses to accept the judgment of first instance, they have the right to appeal within 10 days of receiving the judgment, initiating a second-instance procedure. However, if the prosecutor or the victim refuse to accept the judgment of first instance, they also have the right to appeal.

During the trial stage, lawyers can review case files, meet with the defendants involved, communicate extensively with the defendants, and determine the directions of defense or evidence investigation. During the court session, lawyers can question the defendants, witnesses, and victims, etc., review evidence presented by the prosecutor, put forward refutation reasons, opinions, and evidence that are favorable to the defendants involved, debate with the prosecutor and express defense opinions.

II. Criminal Compulsory Measures

Criminal compulsory measures are integral to the entire criminal proceeding. The five criminal compulsory measures stipulated by the Chinese Criminal Procedure Law – forced appearance, residential surveillance, release upon bail pending trial, criminal detention, and arrest – are equally applicable to foreign individuals suspected of having committed criminal offenses. However, due to they are foreign nationals, there are also some special regulations when applying these compulsory measures to them.

2.1 Forced Appearance

Forced appearance refers to the measure used by case handling organs to force criminal suspects and defendants who are not in custody to make an appearance for interrogation in accordance with the law. The duration of forced appearance shall not exceed 12 hours, if the case is particularly serious and complex and may require detention or arrest measures, the duration shall not exceed 24 hours.

For foreigners without diplomatic immunity but who are of great importance and influence, such as social celebrities, higher-level approvals may be required, and shall be reviewed and approved by The Ministry of Public Security or the Supreme People's Court, in conjunction with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

2.2 Residential Surveillance

Residential surveillance refers to a compulsory measure used by the case-handling organs ordering a criminal suspect or defendant not to leave their residence at will and monitoring and controlling their activities during the criminal proceedings.

If a foreign suspect of a criminal offense within China does not have a long-term fixed residence or is only in transit temporarily, residential surveillance may not be appropriate. However, case-handling organs generally restrict their entry and exit of the Chinese border.

2.3 Release upon Bail Pending Trial

Release upon bail pending trial involves the investigating authority ordering the suspect to provide a guarantor or pay bail, ensuring that they do not evade or obstruct investigation, and allowing them to be summoned at any time.

If a foreign suspect cannot provide bail or a guarantor, based on the spirit of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations that China has acceded to, the embassy or consulate of the suspect's nationality in China can, under the premise of complying with Chinese law, provide guarantees for their citizens.

2.4 Criminal Detention

Criminal detention refers to the temporary deprivation of personal freedom imposed by public security organs or procuratorates on crime suspects or major suspects who are preparing to commit a crime, are committing a crime, or are discovered immediately after committing a crime, when the public security organs or procuratorates encounter a statutory emergency in the course of investigating a case that is being directly handled by them.

The duration of criminal detention is three days, with special circumstances allowing an extension to one to four days. For major suspects who committed crimes from one place to another repeatedly or in a gang, the duration may be extended to 30 days if an application for approval is submitted. After the detention period expires, those who do not need to be arrested will be released upon bail pending trial or implement residential surveillance. For those who need to be arrested, an application for approval of arrest must be submitted to the procuratorate. The procuratorate has seven days to decide whether to approve the arrest. The combined time mentioned above is known as the "golden 37 days." Once the procuratorate approves the arrest, it becomes difficult to apply for release on bail pending trial, the earlier you engage a lawyer, the more advantageous it is to seek release on bail pending trial.

Chinese law stipulates that, before executing detention, the competent public security organ of the case-handling unit shall promptly submit the case details and handling opinions of a foreign national suspected of a crime to the superior competent authority and send a copy to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

After the detention of a foreign suspect, the embassy or consulate in China to which the detained person belongs should be notified promptly. Regarding the time limit for notification, if the country to which the suspect belongs has signed a consular treaty with China, it shall be handled in accordance with the provisions of the treaty. If not signed, notification shall be made within 24 hours of detention.

2.5 Arrest

Arrest refers to the lawful deprivation of personal freedom by case-handling organs to prevent criminal suspects or defendants from obstructing criminal proceedings, evading investigation, prosecution, trial, or causing danger to the public. Arresting criminal suspects or defendants must be approved by the People's Procuratorate or decided by the People's Court and executed by public security organs.

The above content provides a basic introduction to the fundamental procedures of foreign-related public prosecution cases and criminal compulsory measures. It is our sincere hope that this article will help foreigners suspected of criminal offenses and their families have a clear understanding of above information, avoid fear and anxiety due to a lack of knowledge of the criminal procedures in China, and seize the best opportunity to protect their legal rights and interests.