100 trials postponed within 3 days

About 100 trials have been postponed due to the fact that the legal system has been brought to a standstill by the strike of the clerks of the court. It is not clear when the trials will resume.

Defense Attorney Irene Lalji told Times of Suriname that this means that the work pressure on judges will only become heavier. She pointed out that more than 80 detainees were scheduled to appear in court on Monday. On Tuesday more than 20 suspects were scheduled to appear in court. Suspects who had to appear before a judge on Wednesday were also told that their trial has been postponed. Lalji pointed out that she supports the strike of the clerks of the court but she also underlined the consequences of paralyzing the legal system. One of the consequences is that the criminal trials keep piling up every day. She explained that some cases must be handled by a judge within 30 days. If that does not happen, the suspect must be released from custody. She also pointed out that there are also suspects who can be kept in police custody for a certain amount of time which means that their cases must be handled by for the judge to order their incarceration. Lalji made it clear that the current situation is very serious because there is much uncertainty regarding the resumption of criminal trials. The legal and human rights of the suspects are being seriously violated. Lalji also pointed out that the current situation could result in riots in jail. The current situation is also in violation of human rights treaties because the suspects do not know when their case will be handled by a judge. Lalji strongly urged the government to give priority to letting the legal system run its course again. Defense Attorney Georgette Leter pointed out that she was at the courthouse on Wednesday because 4 of her clients were scheduled to appear in court but that they had not been brought to the courthouse. Not a single trial was held at the Criminal Court on Wednesday.