Nicaragua: Assembly approves reform for detentions up to 90 days

Vivanco: Pandemic served the dictatorships of the region 2:09

(CNN Spanish) ––

The Nicaraguan National Assembly, with an official majority, approved this Tuesday the reform of the Criminal Procedure Code that allows the detention of a person for between 15 and 90 days while the investigation of an alleged crime is being carried out.

The current term for this is 48 hours.

“This short term collides with reality because the Constitution says that it must be submitted to the order of the competent authority.

But, reality shows that it is not possible to carry out a technical and scientific investigation whose result is not within 48 hours.

This was indicated by deputy Irma Dávila, a member of the Justice Commission, according to a publication on the official website of the National Assembly.

• Pro-government deputies in Nicaragua propose procedural reforms to allow detentions for up to 90 days for investigation

In the publication they also explain that if the evidence that is being collected in the investigation does not show that the person is the author of the crime or there are indications of his innocence, then the Public Ministry may request the judge to release him and close the process.

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The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Central America and the Dominican Republic does not agree with this measure.

This Wednesday, the entity spoke about it on its Twitter account.

As he wrote, this reform is contrary to the Constitution and international standards.

«The reform goes against the presumption of innocence and the right to know without delay and in detail the accusation against one.

It also puts at risk the integrity and security of the so-called 'judicial detainees', who will remain without effective judicial control ”, says the message.

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Congresswoman Azucena Castillo, from the Constitutional Liberal Party, told CNN last month that this initiative seeks to sow terror in citizens in the context of this election year.

He also pointed out that "it constitutes torture to spend days, weeks or months under investigation to face charges."

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However, according to the publication on the official website of the National Assembly, Deputy Carlos Emilio López, from the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) party, believes that this reform will bring balance to justice.

He explained that "on the one hand it protects the rights of the victims and on the other hand it protects the rights and guarantees of the accused person."

National Assembly Detentions Reform