Hundreds of remand prisoners to get bail

By Sandun A Jayasekera 

Hundreds of remand prison inmates who have been incarcerated for their failure to meet bail conditions after they were produced in courts for minor offences were to be released on relaxed bail conditions yesterday, Justice and Law Reforms Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva said. 

A number of Magistrate Courts and High Courts remained open at Hulftsdorp yesterday on a request made to the Chief Justice by Attorney General to instruct the Judicial Service Commission to take appropriate action on the issue. 

However, in a bid to exploit the situation for their advantage, a group of drug offenders have also asked their release on bail but the AG’s Department has protested to the move as offences under drug peddling are un-bailable and fall under criminal offences category. 

The government is concerned on the danger faced by prisons if and when COVID 19 attacks the inmates, resulting in catastrophic consequences. . 

AG’s Department protested to the move as offences under drug peddling are un-bailable and fall under criminal offences category

“Though requests have been made to the government to release remand prisoners, he or his Ministry did not have the power to do so but Magistrates have the judicial power to release a suspect on personal bail and a cash bail determined by him on the financial capacity of the suspect. If done so, it would contribute to minimise the population at prisons,” Minister De Silva said.