Dibotelo cautious against bail granting
Mpho Mokwape | Tuesday February 6, 2018 17:03
Officially opening the legal year Dibotelo said the perception that police arrest suspects while the courts are quick to release them spells trouble especially for the judiciary.
“The perception is that courts are quick and busy frustrating police’s noble endeavors by releasing the said suspects on bail,” he said.
Dibotelo explained that if the narrative was not handled properly, it has the effect of setting the public against the judiciary.
He noted that courts and prosecution work as a collective therefore there was a need for an understanding to kill the perception.
When giving example the CJ said repeated officers on bail are sometimes a result of the prosecution not opposing bail, leaving the courts with no choice but to grant it.
“Statistics for the period November 2016 to October 2017 show that of 4207 bail applications were registered which resulted in 3476 (83%) being released on bail were unopposed,” Justice Dibotelo said.
Dibotelo however emphasised that the denial of bail must not be used as a mechanism for imprisoning people under the guise or pretext ongoing investigations.
He said in such cases something tangible should be produced before the court.