they are now empowered to do so without a warrant
A new change to the Criminal Procedures Code will grant the police “superpowers” to search and seize assets, with court permission an afterthought.
HAVANA TIMES – Nicaragua’s National Police will soon have authority to search and seize computers and other electronic devices, as well as demand that phone service providers release information on the calls, texts, voice mails and locations of those under investigation, without the need of a warrant. This broad extension of police powers forms part of a new revision to Nicaragua’s Criminal Procedures Code that has beensent tothe National Assembly, where approval is certain.
The revision to Law 406 of the Code represents the fourth change in the laws that Ortega has sent to his docile Congress in the last week.
Article 230, items 9, 10, 12, and 13 of this law give the National Police authority to demand information from the companies providing internet services. Police will also be empowered to force phone service providers to turn over “information regarding contractors of cell phone, landlines and associated services, including their calls, texts and voicemails, geographic locations, and the location of antennas for sending and receiving.”
The Police can also demand “the “subscriber’s identity module (SIM card) number, Internet protocol address (IP number); the international identity of mobile equipment; and authorized users of telecommunications company equipment.”
“The fact here is that this goes counter to human rights – the right to privacy. Any restriction to a human right requires, in addition to a justified cause, some jurisdictional supervision,” stated Uriel Pineda, lawyer and independent human rights consultant.
The attorney added: “When you authorize the police to carry out these actions, you’re violating people’s right to priva