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Press
Release 23/02/06 |
The magistrates,
throughout the country have resumed their duties after the 'go slow'
due their grievances which they felt were not responded to. They
were not remanding new suspects until their grievances have been
answered to.
The police continued to do their work, which was, protecting the law
and as such arresting those who are suspected of committing criminal
offences.
It is a well known provision of the law that any person who is in
Police custody shall not be kept in detention for a period not
exceeding 48 hours without being heard by a court of law, this is in
line with the common law principle 'audi alteram partem'.
The situation in Lesotho was that suspects are kept in police
custody beyond 48 hours which act results into a clear violation of
the suspects' right to freedom of movement and many other rights.
In an interview with a few police officials during the ‘Go Slow’
they confirmed that indeed the High Court, through the registrars is
remanding suspects but not in all cases, they only remand in serious
offences such as murder, rape and armed robbery.
An NGO monitoring the rights of the prisoners confirmed that
suspects are kept more than the lawful time in police custody
without being remanded.
LCN is thankful to those that supported it in the joint appeal to
the government of Lesotho to intervene. |
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