Suspect jumps Police bail
I bailed out a neighbour who was accused of wounding a person in the course of drinking alcohol in a bar. A month after being admitted to Police bail he disappeared and he is nowhere to be found now. Police have given me two weeks to locate the suspect and produce him to the Police Station or else they will forfeit my bond or commit me to prison. Can you guide me on the procedure of forfeiting my Police bond and commission of a surety to prison where the suspect jumps Police bail?
PP, Dar
Jumping Police bail is an offence under section 69(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act. A suspect who jumps bail, if arrested, can be charged in Court with two offences: the original offence he committed and the offence of jumping Police bail. Where a suspect jumps Police bail and cannot be found, Police may make an application to the Court under section 169 of the Criminal Procedure Act against the surety for forfeiture of the bond he signed. Before issuing a forfeiture order the Court shall summon the surety to show cause, why the bond he signed should not be paid or forfeited. Where sufficient cause is not shown and the bond is not paid, the Court may proceed to recover the bond by issuing a warrant for attachment and sale of property belonging to the surety. However, if the bond is not paid and cannot be recovered by way of attachment and sale, the Court may order the surety to serve six months imprisonment. The Court may, at its discretion remit the portion of the penalty and enforce only part of it. Hence you are liable to the extent of the amount stated in the Police bond, which if you pay, you cannot be imprisoned. You cannot also be charged for the offence allegedly committed by your neighbour.