Parliament passes Criminal Procedure Act amendment

The Parliament on Monday has passed the amendment bill on the Criminal Procedure Act seeking to grant bail to convicts and prisoners going during their appeal trials.

Manadhoo MP Husnee Mubarak sponsored the bill on behalf of the government, which was passed with 58 votes with no votes against it.

According to the amendment proposed, if convicts or prisoners seek to challenge their charges or sentences through an appeal, they can be released on bail pending trial conclusion. As such, such individuals will be released in the following conditions:

• If the appeal is founded on sufficient grounds of point of law
• If conditions of bail are met
• If their incarceration serves no further purpose

The amendment further introduces bail procedures for those convicted in lower courts but awaiting sentencing. However, individuals would be released on bail under this only if it is sufficiently proven that their release is prudent in carrying justice.

Despite this, courts are required to recite conditions for their release including a travel ban, attendance to the court as per arrangements, and refrain from communicating with parties to the case.

Other particulars of the amendment bill:

• Expeditious preservation of secured computer data
• Disclosure of traffic data to a set extent
• Procedures in inspecting and maintaining secured computer data

The current Act grants bail only to individuals who are arrested on criminal allegations.