BEIJING - Prosecutors and police are allowed to check and freeze criminal suspects' bonds, shares and funds, according to the draft amendment to the Criminal Procedural Law.

The draft amendment to the Criminal Procedural Law was submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), or China's top legislature, on Monday for a second reading, and it included many revisions based on suggestions offered by lawmakers and the general public.

Article 117 of the original Criminal Procedural Law stipulated that prosecuting bodies and public security authorities are entitled to check and freeze criminal suspects' bank savings and remittances, if necessary.

The draft amendment for the second reading put bonds, shares and funds on the list of assets that prosecutors and police are allowed to check and freeze, given that criminal suspects might have a variety of financial assets.

The Criminal Procedural Law was adopted in 1979 and was revised once, in 1996.

The draft amendment of the Criminal Procedural Law was first read in August 2011 and published online to solicit public opinions from August 30 to September 30.