Lobito - Sixteen new judges were presented on Monday in Benguela, to strengthen the Justice sector in this province.
At the end of a hearing with Governor Luís Nunes, the presiding judge of the Benguela District Court, António Santana, told the press that, although they are still not enough, improvements are expected in the speed of processes in the Courts.
“It will also be an advantage for residents who go to the Courts”, he considered.
The magistrate informed that the new judges joined the 23 already existing and are distributed among the cities of Benguela, Lobito, Cubal and Baía Farta.
“Internally, we will distribute them to the family and criminal rooms, which most need judges at the moment,” he said.
Regarding procedural slowness, António Santana explained that it is not just about the work of judges or the Courts.
According to him, to carry out a process, the judge needs at least five employees and, at the moment, two judges are working with only three.
“The judge makes the order, then the due diligence officer or clerk issues the notification, in addition to other work”, he explained.
Regarding excessive preventive detention, he guaranteed that the province of Benguela is exempt from this issue.
He explained that there has been a certain mess between preventive detention and overcrowding.
“Every day the National Police arrests and in a space that could accommodate 50 people, two days later there could be 200. Therefore, excessive preventive detention is confused with overcrowding”, argued the judicial magistrate.
Regarding the release of a prisoner within a short period of time, he argued that there must first be sufficient evidence to keep someone in prison.
“The judge, after evaluating the evidence, concludes whether the defendant is convicted or acquitted”, he clarified.
António Santana was peremptory in stating that “it is not true that “the Police arrest and the judge releases”.
On the other hand, Cisca Gerônimo, member of the new cast, stated that this is a very important moment for magistrates.
“We came out of very intense training and will be able to apply everything we learned during the training and internship period”, she promised.
She also said will do her best and ensure that justice is faster and fairer.
For magistrate Justino Vicente, it is necessary to streamline issues linked to procedural progress, speed of processes and bringing justice closer to citizens.
“We are prepared for the province of Benguela to be able to carry out the processes in the Courts”, he stated.
The province of Benguela has three District Courts, one in the main municipality, the other two ones in Lobito and Cubal.
As for the Court of Appeal, there is only one in the provincial capital. TC/CRB/CF/DOJ
