Bail denied for asylum seekers involved in the Nauru RPC riot_24July2013
Bail denied for asylum seekers
involved in the Nauru RPC riot
The Nauru District Court has begun proceedings today (24 July)
to lay charges on 152 asylum seekers arrested over the riot at the
Regional Processing Centre on Nauru last week (Friday 19 July).
Bail has formally been denied until bail hearing which will
commence tomorrow (Thursday 25 July).
The charges so far are riot and unlawful assembly. Additional
charges including arson on public buildings are expected.
The asylum seekers appeared in the Nauru District Court before
Resident Magistrate Peter Law in groups of ten to 12.
The asylum seekers are being represented by court appointed
lawyers. Each group was aided by an interpreter.
Magistrate Peter Law first explained to the defendants that the
appearances will be done in an open court whereby members of the
public and the media are permitted to attend.
Mr Law then read the two charges of unlawful assembly and riot,
explaining that all those appearing in court "assembled together in
such a manner as to cause people fear, and so assembled to disturb
the peace."
His Worship further said that the charges of unlawful assembly
and riot are in contravention of sections 61 and 63 respectively of
the Criminal Code of Nauru.
At the conclusion of the proceedings Mr Law issued an order that
police briefs are to be served by 21 August.
Magistrate Law continued a non-publication order that the
identities of all defendants be suppressed by both name, electronic
imaging or any other means that could lead to their identification
outside the precincts of the court.
The riot on Friday 19 July began with protests which escalated
to fires and violence that ended in the burning and destruction to
80 per cent of the Centre's infrastructure.
Damages to the Centre are estimated at $60-million.