Bill to provide for 48 hour detention of suspects

A Bill to provide for the extension of the period of detention of persons arrested without a warrant up to 48 hours, to facilitate the conduct of investigations, was presented to Parliament on Friday.

The Bill titled “Code of Criminal Procedure (Special Provisions)” will also provide for dispensing with the conduct of the non-summary inquiry in certain cases and provide for the taking of depositions of witnesses for the prosecution.

The new detention laws will apply in cases such as murder, attempted murder, kidnapping and abduction with intent to commit murder or to wrongfully confine a person or concealing or keeping in confinement a kidnapped person, rape, robbery with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt and offences committed with the use of explosives or a gun.

The new Bill also empowers the Attorney General to forward indictment directly to the High Court in case of offences committed in aggravating circumstances that give rise to public disquiet. Proceedings commenced in terms of the provisions of this Act need to be concluded within ninety days.