László Székely considers it important from the principle of the rule of law and from the point of view of individual basic rights that the law should place a maximum limit on the time a suspect can be held in police custody, the office said.

The ombudsman made the decision following a submission by a civil organisation.

He established that pre-trial detention should not be regarded as a punishment “brought forward” for acts allegedly committed.

It is rather a guarantee for a successful outcome to a criminal procedure, to ensure that a repeat offense will be avoided and that the accused is kept available for trial, he said.

Pre-trial detention is constitutional if it preserves its “preliminary” nature and does not take over the role of imprisonment, the statement said.

Source www.hungarymatters.hu

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