POLICE OFFICERS have been warned by their boss of the serious consequences of denying lawyers access to clients held in custody.
Acting Commissioner of Police Tyrone Griffith made his position clear yesterday in an interview with the MIDWEEK NATION. He was asked to respond to a written complaint from attorney Mohia Ma’at about denial of access.
“We will not condone that at all,” Griffith said. “The policy is straightforward . . . suspects must have access to their lawyer. The administration of the force would never entertain that. If there are instances of that, they need to report those to us and we will deal with them.”
In the letter to the Bar Association headed Breach of Constitutional Rights and dated December 7, Ma’at explained that a client was being investigated in connection with a recent murder. The lawyer said he spent two and a half hours at Oistins Police Station waiting to see the client, but was never afforded the opportunity. (TKS)
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