The decision is up to the magistrate/ judge to give cash or non-cash bail basing on the circumstances surrounding the case.

However, this may depend on:

• The seriousness of the offence. For example, violent crimes may attract a lot of money in cash bail costs.
• Public interest.
• Simple offences are usually granted with non-cash bail.
• The estimated worth of the case, for example, a case of theft, the bigger the amount stolen, the more money is required for cash bail.

• After the conclusion of the case, do the following;
• Write a letter to the magistrate who heard the case asking for the bail money
• Attach a bail form on which you had been reporting to the court
• Attach a receipt which was given to you by court
• Attach a copy of the accused’s id
• Wait for a response from the magistrate

No fee is paid for a refund of bail.

• For simple offences e.g. threatening violence, obtaining money by false pretence, malicious damage to property etc, this is done in the magistrate’s courts where the accused is being tried.
• For serious offences e.g. murder, rape, defilement, aggravated robbery, the accused applies for bail in the high court.