ABSTRACT
The territory with which this chapter is concerned (South Yemen) seized its independence on 30 November 1967. The Republic is a member of the United Nations and the League of Arab States. According to the constitution there is no separation of powers in the sense described by Montesquieu, but there is only one state power which is vested in the ‘sovereignty of the working people’. Prosecution is at the instance of the Attorney-General of the Republic. Until 31 December 1976 trials in the magistrates’ courts and the Supreme Court were in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Ordinance of 1955. This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book deals with arrest, custody and search (which have to be on the orders of the courts or the Attorney-General), and investigations — which are under the supervision of the Attorney-General through his representatives.
