Legal experts noted concern about overt manipulation of the judiciary as well as political influence over the Commissioner of Police, the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the Anticorruption Tribunal. The judicial system consists of the Supreme Court, which has appellate powers, and a series of lower courts. At year's end, the act had not been signed by the President, but the judiciary has stopped issuing death sentences. There are no political or military courts. The judiciary provides citizens with a fair and efficient judicial process.
Defendants have the right to private or court-appointed counsel.
However, in November the Assembly passed the Dangerous Drugs Act, which would permit law enforcement authorities to hold suspected drug traffickers for a limited time without access to bail or legal counsel. The constitutionality of the law may be questioned. There were no reports of political prisoners. The sanctity of the home is provided for in law and generally respected in practice. The search of personal property or premises is allowed only under clearly specified conditions by court order or by police action to stop a crime in progress.