Criminal Justice Act, 1994

SECOND SCHEDULE

Taking of Evidence for Use Outside State

Section 51 .

Securing attendance of witnesses

1. The judge shall have the like powers for securing the attendance of a witness for the purpose of the proceedings as the District Court has for the purpose of any other proceedings before that court.

Power to administer oaths

2. The judge may in the proceedings take evidence on oath and may administer an oath for that purpose.

Privilege of witnesses

3. (1) A person shall not be compelled to give in the proceedings any evidence which he could not be compelled to give—

(a) in criminal proceedings in the State, or

(b) subject to subparagraph (2) of this paragraph, in criminal proceedings in the country or territory from which the request for the evidence has come.

(2) Subparagraph (1) (b) of this paragraph shall not apply unless the claim of the person questioned to be exempt from giving the evidence is conceded by the court, tribunal or authority which made the request.

(3) Where such a claim made by any person is not conceded as aforesaid, he may (subject to the other provisions of this paragraph) be required to give the evidence to which the claim relates but the evidence shall not be transmitted to the court, tribunal or authority which requested it if a court in the country or territory in question, on the matter being referred to it, upholds the claim.

(4) Without prejudice to subparagraph (1) of this paragraph, a person shall not be compelled under this Schedule to give any evidence if his doing so would be prejudicial to the security of the State; and a certificate signed by or on behalf of the Minister to the effect that it would be so prejudicial for that person to do so shall be admissible as evidence of that fact.

(5) Without prejudice to subparagraph (1) of this paragraph, a person shall not be compelled under this Schedule to give any evidence in his capacity as an officer or servant of the State.

(6) In this paragraph references to giving evidence include references to answering any question and to producing any document or other article and the reference in subparagraph (3) of this paragraph to the transmission of evidence given by a person shall be construed accordingly.

Transmission of evidence

4. (1) The evidence received by the judge shall be furnished to the Minister for transmission to the court, tribunal or authority that made the request.

(2) If in order to comply with the request it is necessary for the evidence to be accompanied by any certificate, affidavit or other verifying document, the judge shall also furnish for transmission such document of that nature as may be specified in the notice nominating the judge.

(3) Where the evidence consists of a document, the original or a copy shall be transmitted and, where it consists of any other article, the article itself or a description, photograph or other representation of it shall be transmitted, as may be necessary in order to comply with the request.

Supplementary

5. For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that the Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 1879 , applies to the proceedings as it applies to other proceedings before a court.

6. No order for costs shall be made in the proceedings.

Acts Referred to

Aliens Act, 1935

1935, No. 14

Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 1879

42 & 43 Vict., c.11

Bankruptcy Act, 1988

1988, No. 27

Building Societies Act, 1989

1989, No. 17

Central Bank Act, 1971

1971, No. 24

Central Bank Act, 1989

1989, No. 16

Companies Acts, 1963 to 1990

Credit Union Act, 1966

1966, No. 19

Criminal Justice Act, 1960

1960, No. 27

Criminal Law Act, 1976

1976, No. 32

Customs Acts

European Communities Act, 1972

1972, No. 27

Extradition Act, 1870

33 & 34 Vict., c. 52

Extradition Act, 1873

36 & 37 Vict., c. 60

Extradition (Amendment) Act, 1994

1994, No. 6

Extradition (European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism) Act, 1987

1987, No. 1

Genocide Act, 1973

1973, No. 28

Industrial and Provident Societies Acts, 1893 to 1978

Insurance Acts, 1909 to 1990

Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 1959

1959, No. 22

Mercantile Marine Act, 1955

1955, No. 29

Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977

1977, No. 12

Police Property Act, 1897

60 & 61 Vict., c. 30

Prisons Acts, 1826 to 1980

Registration of Deeds Act, 1707

6 Anne, c. 2

Registration of Title Act, 1964

1964, No. 16

Trustee Savings Banks Act, 1989

1989, No. 21