Some 200 suspects jailed pending the outcome of their trials have requested to be released under the electronic monitoring mechanism.
The Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) has introduced a monitoring mechanism in May, where individuals detained indefinitely can get released with ankle monitors if they meet certain requirements.
A spokesperson from the PGO told Sun on Saturday that the office received applications from some 200 suspects seeking release from jail with ankle monitors.
He added that 92 applications were forwarded for risk assessments as of June.
He said that 13 suspects have been released with ankle monitors, while the applications of 20 were rejected.
The spokesperson said that most applications were rejected because it involved suspects accused of crimes that pose a threat to public safety.
While the PGO has said that 13 suspects have been released with ankle monitors, the Criminal Court records show the release of only nine, with the last suspect released on July 17.
Suspects are released under the monitoring mechanism via the Criminal Court for a period of 100 days, and are subject to conditions set by the court.
According to the PGO, suspects will only be released if they pass a risk assessment by the police.
The PGO had said at the time that only suspects whose threat to the community can be minimized with ankle monitors will be released under the mechanism.
The office said that suspects of serious felonies such as murder, terrorism, sexual abuse of children and major drug trafficking cases will not be eligible for release.
The monitoring mechanism seeks to address the issue of multiple suspects who are held in jail pending the outcome of trial, which sometimes stretch on for years.
According to the annual report published by the PGO in March, there were four suspects counting their sixth year in jail while awaiting trial, eight counting their fifth year, and 22 more who were counting their fourth year.
During his 2023 presidential campaign, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu had pledged to resolve the issue of indefinite detentions. And in March 2024, he said the administration would make legal reforms towards that end.
The PGO has said that the monitoring mechanism will offer some degree of relief to the issue of overcrowding at remand jails, and also help improve facilities provided to detainees.