Burundi's police custody procedures mandate documentation for all detentions and specify conditions for terminating questioning, according to new regulations. Article 35 requires an Officier de Police Judiciaire (OPJ) to draft a police custody report for every placement in custody. The article states, "La personne relâchée doit obtenir au moment de sa libération un document indiquant le lieu, les dates et la durée de la garde à vue, la raison de sa libération, les charges retenues ou abandonnées et la suite réservée à son dossier." Article 37 prohibits further questioning of a presumed offender in custody once guilt indicators are established, mandating their immediate presentation to the Public Prosecutor. The regulation states, "Il doit être conduit sans délai devant le procureur de la République qui décide de sa libération ou de son transfert dans un établissement pénitentiaire."
Detailed Documentation Requirements
Burundi's police custody report must detail the identity of the detained individual, the day, hour, and location of their arrest, and the nature and motives for their custody. The document also requires information on the conditions of presentation, confirmation that rights were communicated, the day and hour custody ended, its total duration, and the final measure taken upon conclusion. The report must specify all locations where custody was conducted.
A copy of the police custody report is provided to the detained person. Each page of the report must be initialed by both the Officier de Police Judiciaire (OPJ) and the detained individual. The detained person is invited to reread their statement before signing it. If the person is unable to read, their statement must be read to them by a person of their choice or by the OPJ, with this action noted in the report.
The original police custody report is transmitted to the Public Prosecutor (Procureur de la République). A duplicate of the report is maintained on file and recorded in a dedicated register. Custody formalities must include precise details regarding the durations of interrogations and the rest periods observed between them. A released person must receive a document that specifies the location, dates, and duration of their custody, the reason for their release, any charges that were dropped or maintained, and the follow-up action for their case.
Communication and Judicial Oversight
Police custody in Burundi restricts an individual's freedom to communicate, according to Article 36 of the new regulations. An Officier de Police Judiciaire (OPJ) is mandated to inform the family or other interested parties about the custody measure and the location where the person is being held. Article 36 specifies, "Tout Officier de Police Judiciaire a l’obligation d’informer la famille de la personne gardée à vue ou toute autre personne intéressée de la mesure dont elle est l’objet et du lieu de garde à vue."
However, the opportunity for a detained person to communicate with others remains at the discretion of the OPJ or the investigating magistrate. Article 36 further clarifies, "Il apprécie l’opportunité de la personne gardée à vue de communiquer avec une personne ou une autorité quelconque en fonction des circonstances de la cause." This provision grants the authority to assess such opportunities based on the specific circumstances of each case. Ultimately, the Public Prosecutor (Procureur de la République) holds the authority to decide whether to release the individual from custody or transfer them to a penal institution.
Timelines for Presentation
Upon expiration of the legal custody period, Burundian law mandates that an individual must be presented to the prosecutor or released, with their police report immediately transmitted. Article 38 specifies, "La présentation effective au procureur de la République doit intervenir avant l’expiration du délai légal de garde à vue et le dossier de la procédure est remis en même temps." This presentation to the Public Prosecutor must occur before the legal custody period concludes.
Article 39 addresses cases where a person sought for a warrant, prison sentence, or civil confinement is located. In such instances, the Officier de Police Judiciaire (OPJ) places the individual in custody and immediately informs the competent judicial authority. The detained person is then presented to or transferred to the judicial authority according to their instructions. "Selon les instructions de cette dernière, la personne lui est présentée ou est transférée dans les plus brefs délais," Article 39 states.