The Arrest of Mostafa Baluch Reignites Bail Furore
With news that alleged drug importer Mostafa Baluch has been found and arrested, police are continuing to make comments about the original grant of bail, the latest indicating how police are “furious the magistrate allowed him out on bail”. A grant of bail is a consideration of certain risks to the community etc and are founded on a number of factors, including a person’s criminal history but importantly the strength of the police case. Police did not provide the court with the appropriate amount of evidence to satisfy a Magistrate that bail should not be granted. It was Police who failed to satisfy a court in circumstances where they, after obviously spending considerable resources in investigating Mr Baluch, could not compile a compelling enough argument. The Magistrate granted bail with extremely strict conditions, including wearing an ankle bracelet that is monitored by police 24/7. Police are alerted immediately when a bracelet is tampered with so would have been aware as soon ...