The Cabinet approved a pair of bills Friday to impose tighter control on organized, high-tech and international crimes.
One bill will revise the law dealing with the prosecution of organized crimes to penalize gangsters who participate only in the planning stage of serious crimes.
After the amendment, anyone conspiring to commit an organized criminal act will face to up to five years in prison, even if neither the crime nor actual preparations ever took place. It will be the first time that someone could be liable for prosecution for simply contemplating a criminal act.
The legislation will also revise the Penal Code to punish people who program or spread computer viruses. It will set detailed conditions for international cooperation during criminal investigations and the transfer of prisoners.
In a news conference after Friday's Cabinet meeting, Justice Minister Daizo Nozawa expressed hope that the bills will be approved promptly by the Diet.