For crimes against state security, the Ministry of Justice has 40 days to prepare the case for a trial, and the accused may be incarcerated until the trial or for a period not to exceed a year. There is a functioning system of bail. There were no known instances of security detentions or forced exile for political or other reasons. The judicial system is composed of the Supreme Court and the regional courts. There are five Supreme Court judges, including one who is appointed by the President of the Republic, one appointed by the National Assembly, and three appointed by the High Council of Magistrates.
Defendants enjoy a presumption of innocence.
Evidence suggests that the courts protect individual rights in criminal cases. The autonomous Institute for Judicial Support, to which most private lawyers belong, provides free counsel for indigent defendants. The defense is permitted to present witnesses and has access to government evidence. Verdicts may be appealed. Regional courts adjudicate minor disputes on the local level in rural areas.