Police Commissioner (ag) complains about Magistrates and Judges granting bail in too many cases

Ramnarine said there are several cases where he believes "insensitivity and carelessness" are shown in granting persons their pre-trial liberty and said he refuses to allow the police force to be blamed for the failures of the courts.

Police Commissioner (ag) complains about Magistrates and Judges granting bail in too many cases

Members of the Judicial bench have come up in for stinging criticism from Police Commissioner (acting) David Ramnarine over the granting of bail to persons who are charged and taken before the courts on serious offenses.

Ramnarine said there are several cases where he believes “insensitivity and carelessness” are shown in granting persons their pre-trial liberty and said he refuses to allow the police force to be blamed for the failures of the courts.

“The amount of bail granted in the court makes a mockery of how responsible people in authority should behave in these matters,” the Commissioner told reporters at his Kingston office.

To make his case, the Commissioner singled out the case where the prime suspect in the recent robbery-murder of a Brazilian national was granted bail twice for two separate serious crimes.

“How can we be so insensitive in our dispensation of the granting of bail?” the Commissioner questioned.

Commissioner Ramnarine was forceful that the judiciary should do more to ensure that bail serves as a deterrent to crime.

“I will not take responsibility for the behavior of other people who constitute and have a role to play in the criminal justice system. I can only defend our actions in the Police Force,” the commissioner vehemently expressed.

Recently, self-confessed drug lord Barry Dataram and his wife who were both charged with cocaine possession were able to flee the country while they were on bail and while the trial was ongoing.

On the other hand, persons have been complaining about a large number of persons currently on remand and the long period of time it takes for trials to be completed.

The judiciary recently moved to recommence night courts to allow for faster processing of cases.

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