Ramadhar: Quicker processing of cases needed

Prakash Ramadhar. -
Prakash Ramadhar. -

ST AUGUSTINE MP Prakash Ramadhar has responded to Police Commissioner Gary Griffith saying while he agrees with the CoP's stance on preventing people held with high-powered rifles from accessing bail, more attention must be given to underlying factors preventing the timely processing of gun crimes.

Griffith, at a press conference last Thursday, chided Ramadhar and other politicians for not supporting the Bail Amendment Bill, thus allowing people held with weapons to access bail.

But in a media release issued the following day, Ramadhar said while he agrees with Griffith’s views on bail for people held with high-powered weapons, it was not up to him or the commissioner to decide who should be granted bail.

Ramadhar also said the issue of repeat offenders being granted bail extended to the quality of training judicial officers receive.

“In relation to bail, I personally believe that persons who are held with assault weapons and weapons of great destruction, (such) as grenades, ought not automatically to be granted bail. Fortunately, the decision to grant bail is neither with me nor the police. It is with the Judiciary.

He said he understood the frustration of the commissioner "to see persons charged for the possession of assault weapons...granted bail with apparent consummate ease. That raises questions of the quality of our judicial officers and their training. These are matters that must be looked at as a matter of highest urgency and importance.”

Ramadhar said in all situations the rights of an individual should always be weighed against the protection of society and suggested the police should go to the High Court or the Court of Appeal to have the bail revoked if they were dissatisfied with the decision of a magistrate.

He also reminded Griffith that police complainants should have their cases prepared to ensure timely processing, noting the sluggish progression of cases in criminal courts.

“If we were to deny access to the court for bail for 120 days as the commissioner may have stated, what happens on the 121st day? They will be able to apply for bail.

“If the police cannot indicate when their cases can be ready to be proceeded with, a court may very well take a view that, in the circumstances, bail should be granted.” Ramadhar recommended forensic reports be made available in a faster time-frame so the police could be ready to start their cases while stakeholders have access to courts which deal with firearm offences.

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"Ramadhar: Quicker processing of cases needed"

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