Abdul Wahab Patail J:

This revision has been called in the course of general supervision of the subordinate courts by the High Court. In reviewing applications for further detention of arrested persons (suspects) beyond 24 hours under s. 117 (remand orders) of the Criminal Procedure Code(CPC) in the magistrate's court, certain matters came to light and which requires remedial attention.

In the morning of 5 February 2001, the Kuala Lumpur magistrates' court dealt with 57 applications for remand orders. The same magistrate dealt with 15 applications under s. 4(1)(b) of the Drug Dependants (Treatment & Rehabilitation) Act 1983. These 72 applications were dealt with between 11.45am and 1.15pm. While most applications were in respect of one suspect, many were in respect of between 2-5 suspects, and in one case it involved 15 suspects. The learned magistrate had approximately 75 seconds for each application, and orders for periods of remand between three days and eight days were granted. This speed raises questions whether the remand applications were heard and considered adequately.

Section 117(iii) CPCprovides that in authorising remand the magistrate shall record his reasons