Appearance before a judge

You may be kept detained on remand with the special permission of the investigative judge.

When arrested on reasonable suspicion, you can be held for a maximum of 48 hours. During this time, the person directing the proceedings must decide whether to release you or to give you the status of a suspect or an accused and ask an investigative judge to keep you in detention on remand.

If you are arrested with the status of a suspect or accused, you must be brought before an investigative judge even earlier. You can read more about this in the Criminal Procedure Law. If you have been arrested at the time your trial commences, you must be brought in front of the Court that is examining your case.

important It is the duty of the person directing the proceedings to bring you in front of an investigative judge or the Court and you do not have to ask for this to be done. The police or the prosecutor him/herself cannot decide to keep you detained.

The investigative judge or the Court can decide to keep you detained on remand only on the grounds stated in law. Read more about the reasons for pre-trial detention.

What human rights violation may there be?

If you were not promptly and automatically brought in front of an investigative judge or the court before your arrest period expired, it may result in a violation of the right to liberty and security of a person.

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Last updated 05/11/2018