ASYLUM SEEKERS COURT CASE

DISTRICT COURT of NAURU
26^th July 2013

-Media Release-

(Information copy pasted from GIO)

On 25^th July, the District Court heard applications from twenty asylum seekers defendants seeking bail in respect to charges of ‘Riot’ and ‘unlawful assembly’ arising from an incident on 19^th July 2013.  One of the defendants was discharged when the prosecution sought leave to withdraw the charges against him.  On 26^th July, the District Court heard applications from a further 40 defendants.  The cases were presented by three court appointed lawyers for the defendants and translators provided interpretation for the defendants.

The Court considered issues raised by the legal representatives including the presumption in favour of bail, the seriousness of the charges, the prospect of re-offending, the oppressive nature of the current detention in which 150 asylum seekers are detained along with 16 prisoners in the Nauru Correctional Centre.  Further issues put to the court included the fact that there is no accommodation available at the Regional Processing Centre and the prospect of re-housing the defendants in tents will not be available until the end of next week, beginning of following week commencing 5^th August 2013. 

The Court refused bail in respect to three asylum seeker defendants.  The remaining asylum seeker defendants were granted bail to commence from 5^th August through to 8^thAugust on strict conditions, requiring each of them to enter agreements to not to commit offences and to obey any directions of staff at the Regional Processing Centre and to attend court on 2^nd September 2013. 

Peter Law
Resident Magistrate
Media contacts:   peter.law@naurugov.nr
+674 557 3099