Judges of the Constitutional Council denied the request for a declaration of unconstitutionality of the article on pre-trial detention, contained in the country's current Code of Criminal Procedure.

Through a ruling issued on Thursday, the Constitutional Council denied the request of the Bar Association, which asked for a declaration of nullity of the article on pre-trial detention in the new Code of Criminal Procedure.

Quoted by VOA, lawyers say it is unconstitutional that the law does not establish a maximum time limit for pre-trial detention, but at least five of the seven members of the Constitutional Council said there is no problem, so the law should be upheld.

The Order says it respects the position, but still does not agree.

In a press conference to react to the decision, Duarte Casimiro, chairman of the Bar Association, said that the class will not lower its guard and will continue to fight for what it believes to be the most just.

Isálcio Mahanjane, the lawyer with the most defendants in the hidden debts case, is also not satisfied.

Faced with this ultimate position, which has no appeal, Mahanjane foresees dark days for justice.