Criminal
Penal Code offences with the death penalty abolished in 2022
The Penal Code (Chapter 87) is the principal source of offences, in the English colonial codification tradition. The Penal Code (Amendment) Act 24 of 2022 abolished the death penalty, replacing it with life imprisonment, and separately repealed the offence of criminal defamation of the President.
Key rules
- Jurisdiction — Subordinate courts try most offences; the High Court hears murder; the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court hear appeals.
- Deadline — Arrested person brought before a court within 24 hours where practicable
Governing law
- Penal CodeChapter 87
- Penal Code (Amendment) Act 24 of 2022 — abolition of the death penalty
- Criminal Procedure CodeChapter 88
In practice
The 2022 abolition ended a long period in which death sentences were passed but not carried out, and the simultaneous repeal of criminal defamation of the President removed an offence that had been used against journalists.