6 get bail varied

SIX people were successful in having their bail varied when their matters came up before the bail review court on Friday. The six are part of 137 identified by the prisons service, in government’s early release initiative, as part of coronavirus pandemic measures.

On Friday, Justice Lisa Ramsumair-Hinds heard 13 applications for bail variations which were filed last week Wednesday. All 13 agreed to have the Public Defenders Department representing them. Friday’s hearing was the first of three hearings with the two others expected to be held on Monday and Tuesday.

Also at Friday’s hearing, six applications were adjourned for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to assist with certain information that is needed from the police, while one application was denied.

The Office of the Public Defender was represented by the Chief Public Defender Hasine Shaikh and she was assisted by the Legal Aid and Advisory Authority by three of its legal officers. Last month, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi said about 600 inmates were being processed for possible early release from prison to ease overcrowding amid the covid19 pandemic. At a hearing of the application to facilitate this, some seven categories of prisoners were identified while 121 were released early by the prison.

The categories of prisoners include men, women, and children – who may be able to have their sentences commuted; were sentenced to less than a year; are serving default sentences because they could not pay fines; were unable to access bail, including those who were convicted and are awaiting appeal; and who are entitled to remission by the prison. Also included were those serving time for not paying child maintenance.