The decision to prosecute or not raises big political and philosophical questions. But most importantly, it directly affects peoples’ lives in profound and lasting ways.
Ben Livings, University of South Australia and Rick Sarre, University of South Australia
The inquiry will investigate the handling of Brittany Higgins’ rape allegations by ACT authorities.
Tony Mokbel was sentenced to at least 22 years in jail in 2012 after pleading guilty to large-scale drug importation - but some argue he could get a new trial or even walk free given the latest revelations.
Justine Smith/AAP
The royal commission will examine the conduct of a defence barrister who became an informant to the police - supplying information on her own clients that had been given to her in strict confidence.
The appointment of South Africa’s national prosecutions head Shaun Abrahams has been declared invalid.
EPA/Nic Bothma
South Africa’s Reserve Bank is facing a growing challenge of illicit financial flows and money laundering from gangs and errant businesses hell-bent on tricking regulators.
South Africa’s celebrated state prosecutor Gerrie Nel, known as ‘The Bull Dog’, is to lead the country’s first private prosecutions unit.
Reuters/Marco Longari/Pool
Even though private prosecutions have been allowed in South African for almost 100 years, they are fairly rare and there has been only one known successful private prosecution.