About 150 jump bail here each year: Court spokesman
This figure is a small ratio of those granted bail over past three years: Court spokesman
Published on Sep 20, 2011
Drug suspect Irfan Ahmed Khan fled to Malaysia in June after being granted a day's bail to get married. He was nabbed in Johor after 17 days. -- ST FILE PHOTO
By Jalelah Abu Baker & Kimberly Spykerman
Jumping bail is not common here because the accused person does not want the money - put up by family members or friends - to be forfeited, said lawyers.
Thousands of people are granted bail every year, and, on average, only 150 per year have jumped bail granted by the Subordinate Courts in the last three years, a spokesman said.
Bail, which is meant to secure the attendance of the accused at a court hearing or police questioning, varies depending on the severity of the offence.
Said lawyer Amolat Singh: 'Unless it's a serious offence, like a capital case, bail is usually allowed as a matter of principle.
'Because as long as they are not convicted, they shouldn't have to languish in jail, unless of course there is the potential that they can interfere with the case, harass victims or tamper with evidence; then, the judge will remove bail.'
Read the full story in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times.
