New Police bond guidelines issued
Feb 24, 2009
THE Police have issued a list of officers who are authorised to issue bond to suspects.
By Herbert Ssempogo
THE Police have issued a list of officers who are authorised to issue bond to suspects.
They are the division and district Police commanders, criminal investigations chiefs, officers in charge of Police stations, the area traffic bosses, the heads of the child and family protection units and the minor offenses.
The new directive, said Nabakooba, was prompted by reports that the Police were extorting money from suspects in exchange for bond, which is free and a constitutional right.
“Sometimes detectives assigned to cases release suspects on bond, yet they are not authorised to do so,†Nabakooba noted.
A senior Police officer, who asked not to be named, said the culprits would not tell the suspects why they were being released before appearing in court.
Nabakooba said officers found extorting money from suspects would be investigated and punished.
According to the Constitution, a suspect is supposed to be released within 48 hours after arrest.
Appearing before Parliament recently, Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, proposed that the mandatory detention time for suspects be increased to allow thorough investigations to be conducted.
Human rights activists, however, have opposed the proposal.
THE Police have issued a list of officers who are authorised to issue bond to suspects.
They are the division and district Police commanders, criminal investigations chiefs, officers in charge of Police stations, the area traffic bosses, the heads of the child and family protection units and the minor offenses.
The new directive, said Nabakooba, was prompted by reports that the Police were extorting money from suspects in exchange for bond, which is free and a constitutional right.
“Sometimes detectives assigned to cases release suspects on bond, yet they are not authorised to do so,†Nabakooba noted.
A senior Police officer, who asked not to be named, said the culprits would not tell the suspects why they were being released before appearing in court.
Nabakooba said officers found extorting money from suspects would be investigated and punished.
According to the Constitution, a suspect is supposed to be released within 48 hours after arrest.
Appearing before Parliament recently, Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, proposed that the mandatory detention time for suspects be increased to allow thorough investigations to be conducted.
Human rights activists, however, have opposed the proposal.