Africa-Press – Angola. Cuanza Sul province has six guarantee judges, with a view to guaranteeing the protection of citizens’ fundamental rights and freedoms before the law.
The information was provided by the presiding judge of the District Court of Sumbe, Erineu Ângelo Máquina, adding that the guarantee judges, who began their duties on Tuesday, will work in the municipalities of Sumbe (three), Amboim (two) and Cell (one).
The guarantees judge is one of the novelties of the new Code of Criminal Procedure, in force since February 2021, being responsible for the application of personal coercive measures, with emphasis on preventive detention, until then in charge of the public prosecutor, in the preparatory instruction phase of the processes.
On the occasion, the magistrate explained that the guarantees judge has the mission of supervising and monitoring the rights of citizens in conflict with the law, before the trial.
“For example, in the event that a detained citizen is not present in less than 24 hours, the guarantees judge may resort to measures to restore his freedom”, he stressed.
He said that the judge of guarantees is also responsible for deciding on wiretapping, as material evidence in the context of the preparatory instruction.
In his turn, the representative of the Angolan Bar Association in Cuanza Sul, Sidónio Silva, welcomed the entry into operation of the guarantee judges, underlining that they will contribute to safeguarding the rights and freedom of citizens.
The province of Cuanza Sul has 12 municipalities, 36 communes and an estimated population of over two million and 500 thousand inhabitants.
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