Criminal Procedure Code · English · 2015

Article 131

Witness Who Refuses to Testify or Produce Evidence

(1)

Where a person, who is summoned to give evidence as a witness:

(a)

refuses to be sworn;

(b)

having been sworn, refuses to answer the questions that are put to him; or

(c)

refuses to produce any tangible evidence that he has been required to produce, without offering a reasonable excuse for his refusal,

the Court may adjourn the proceedings and commit the person to prison for a period not exceeding eight days or for the period during which the proceedings are adjourned, whichever is the lesser.

(2)

No witness may refuse to answer a question that is put to him on the ground that the answer might tend to incriminate him, but any answer that he gives may not be used directly or indirectly against him in any other criminal or civil proceedings.

(3)

A witness who is the mother, father, brother, sister or spouse of the accused shall not be punished for refusing to testify or produce evidence.