Amos accuse courts of... 'Hanky-panky' bail
June 19, 2006
A senior cop has charged that the courts continue to mishandle bail for persons charged with serious offences, saying that offenders often return to the streets only to commit more heinous crimes. Referring to the judges' action as 'hanky-panky', Superintendent Newton Amos urged national security minister Dr Peter Phillips to take the police's concern to justice minister senator AJ Nicholson, for him to intercede with the judiciary.
"There is hanky-panky taking place in the courts regarding bail, especially where it relates to very serious criminals moving to and from the courts on a daily basis," said Amos, head of the St Andrew South police division, during question time at the Police Officers Association (POA) annual general meeting last Thursday.
"In the St Andrew South division, we were able to put away a number of repeated offenders over the years only to find that the minute they are put away, crime goes down," said the policeman referring to arrests made.
"After a couple of weeks they are bailed by the courts despite the fact that you ask the courts for a curfew order to be put in effect if bail is granted so that they can be monitored whilst on bail," Amos complained.
He said five persons charged recently made four appearances in court and were bailed. He said shortly after the five returned to the community, six persons were killed, and that the names of the five were linked to the killings.
Amos said the police, after investigation, had to arrest the same people who were granted bail by the court.
"I am not saying judges must not exercise their powers to offer bail to these people, but Mr Minister, you have to speak to Mr Nicholson who has portfolio responsibility for the courts to speak to the judges about the police concern in this regard, (so) that when bail is being effected these concerns must be taken into consideration," said Amos directing his comment at Phillips, who was at the meeting....
Author: T K Whyte
Source: Jamaica Observer
