Detention of Property Seized.

Detention of Property Seized.

Under Section 44 of the Criminal Procedure Act [CAP. 20 R.E. 2022], when an article is seized by the police and brought before a court, the law provides procedures for its handling:

• The article may be detained until the conclusion of the case or investigation, with reasonable care taken to preserve its condition.

• If an appeal is filed or if a person is committed for trial, the court may order the article to be further detained for the purposes of the appeal or trial.

• If no appeal is made and no person is committed for trial, the court must direct the article to be restored to the person it was taken from, unless the court is authorized or required by law to dispose of it in another manner.

This section ensures the protection and proper management of seized property during criminal proceedings, balancing the interests of justice with the rights of property owners.