Facts
A. has been in pre-trial detention since 18 October 2010 under the accusation of drug trafficking offenses. On 8 March 2011, the Public Prosecutor's Office brought charges before the Criminal Court. By order of 15 March 2011, the Court of Coercive Measures ordered the detention of the accused for safety reasons, without specifying the duration.
A. filed a criminal appeal against this order, primarily requesting that his detention for safety reasons be ordered for a maximum duration of one month.
Considerations
The Federal Tribunal upheld the appeal and annulled the contested decision. It considered that according to a literal interpretation of Art. 229 para. 3 let. b CrimPC, the court of coercive measures can order detention for safety reasons for a maximum of three months (or exceptionally six months) when there has been prior pre-trial detention.
The Federal Tribunal found that the reasoning of the lower instance, which considered that there is no limitation on the duration…