The Seychellois legal system is based on English common law, with influences of the
Napoleonic Code (e.g., in tort and contract matters). The three-tiered judicial system
consists of magistrates', Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal. The Court of
Appeal hears appeals from the Supreme Court in both civil and criminal cases. The
Supreme Court has jurisdiction of first instance as well as acting as an appeals court
from the magistrates' courts. Criminal cases are heard in magistrates' courts or the
Supreme Court depending on the seriousness of the charge. Juries are called only in
cases of murder. Normal legal protections are extended to defendants, which
includes public trials, the right of the accused to be present during trial, and the right
to confront witnesses, to appeal, to qualify for bail, and to be represented by counsel,
on a pro bono basis if is a person of limited means. Judges and Magistrates from other
Commonwealth countries, mostly African or Asian are employed on a contract basis.
Under the penal code, a detained person must be brought before a magistrate within
twenty four hours.
4.
Relationship between the arms of Government.
Under the Constitution the functions of the Police Force of Seychelles and of the
Defence Forces of Seychelles are defined as follows:
•
The Police Force
The functions of the Police Force of Seychelles includes:
(a) maintenance of law and order and preservation of internal security of the
Country;
(b) prevention and detection of crime in the Country and over any other area which
the Republic has proclaimed its jurisdiction.
The Police, is commanded by a Police Commissioner and includes a regular 500member unit and a sixty-member Special Support Unit. For operational and