RALEIGH (AP) ó A North Carolina House committee is backing a plan which would make torture a felony.
A House judiciary panel on Thursday approved a plan which would ban torture and make violations punishable by prison time. Enforced disappearances, where a person is detained or abducted so they canít get due process of law, also would become felony offenses.
Rep. Paul Luebke is one of the lawmakers pushing for the bill. The Durham County Democrat said heís sponsoring the plan because it will give state officials the power to investigate Aero Contractors. The Smithfield-based company has been accused of helping the CIA ferry terrorism suspects to overseas facilities where they were allegedly tortured.
The bill now goes to the House Appropriations Committee.