Bail, by its clear definition, requires that a person must first be arrested or deprived of his liberty because the purpose of bail is to release an accused or respondent from imprisonment or detention until his conviction and yet secure his appearance at the trial. It would be incongruous to grant bail to one who is free, as what happened in the case at bar. [A.M. No. MTJ-96-1112. December 27, 1996]
