IX. The Judiciary
Article 101
[Ban on extraordinary courts]
(1) Extraordinary courts shall not be allowed. No one may be removed from the jurisdiction of his lawful judge. (2) Courts for particular fields of law may be established only by a law.
IX. The Judiciary
Article 103
[Fair trial]
(1) In the courts every person shall be entitled to a hearing in accordance with law.
(2) An act may be punished only if it was defined by a law as a criminal offence before the act was committed.
(3) No person may be punished for the same act more than once under the general criminal laws.
Article 104
[Deprivation of liberty]
(1) Liberty of the person may be restricted only pursuant to a formal law and only in compliance with the procedures prescribed therein. Persons in custody may not be subjected to mental or physical mistreatment.
(2) Only a judge may rule upon the permissibility or continuation of any deprivation of liberty. If such a deprivation is not based on a judicial order, a judicial decision shall be obtained without delay. The police may hold no one in custody on their own authority beyond the end of the day following that of the arrest. Details shall be regulated by a law .
(3) Any person provisionally detained on suspicion of having committed a criminal offence shall be brought before a judge no later than the day following that of his arrest; the judge shall inform him of the reasons for the arrest, examine him and give him an opportunity to raise objections. The judge shall, without delay, either issue a written arrest warrant setting forth the reasons therefor or order his release. (4) A relative or a person enjoying the confidence of the person in custody shall be notified without delay of any judicial decision imposing or continuing a deprivation of liberty.
Part 2
Surrender of Persons
§ 13
Provisional Arrest
(1) When the prerequisites for an arrest warrant for surrender have been fulfilled,
the public prosecution office and the officers of the police force are authorized to
effect the provisional arrest. In accordance with the conditions set forth in § 127
para. 1 sentence 1 of the Criminal Procedure Code, any person is entitled to conduct
a provisional arrest.
(2) If the suspect is taken into custody, he shall be informed of the reason
therefore.
(3) When an arrest warrant for surrender exists, the suspect must be promptly
informed thereof. The suspect is to be given a copy.
Part 2
Surrender of Persons
§ 14
Procedure After Capture Based Upon an Warrant of Arrest for Surrender
(relating to Article 59 para. 2 of the Rome Statute)
(1) If the suspect is captured based upon an arrest warrant for surrender, the
suspect must be brought without delay, at the latest on the day after capture, before
a judge of the next District Court (Amtsgericht).
(2) The judge of the District Court will examine the suspect promptly after the presentation, at the latest on the next day, regarding his personal circumstances, in
particular, regarding his citizenship. He shall inform him, that in each phase of the
proceedings he may use legal assistance (§ 31) and that it is up to him whether or
not to make statements regarding the criminal act he is accused of committing. He
shall then inform the suspect that he may apply for suspension of execution of the
arrest warrant for surrender, as well as that he may at any time approach the Court
regarding its arrest warrant, and he shall question him as to whether and, if necessary, upon which grounds, he seeks to raise objections to the surrender; § 41
para. 5 sentence 1 applies mutatis mutandis. In cases under § 11 para. 2 the
examination also extends to the topic of the charge; in most cases, information
provided by the suspect shall be included in the record of proceedings. Provided that
the Court requests, it shall be provided with a copy of the record of proceedings.
Part 2
Surrender of Persons
§ 15
Procedure After Provisional Arrest
(2) § 14 para. 2 applies mutatis mutandis to the examination of the suspect.
SPECIAL PART
CHAPTER THIRTY
OFFENCES COMMITTED IN PUBLIC OFFICE
Section 340
Causing bodily harm while exercising a public office
(1) A public official who in the exercise of his duties causes bodily harm or allows it to be caused shall be liable to imprisonment from three months to five years. In less serious cases the penalty shall be imprisonment of not more than five years or a fine.
(2) The attempt shall be punishable.
(3) Sections 224 to 229 shall apply mutatis mutandis to offences under subsection (1) 1st sentence above.
SPECIAL PART
CHAPTER THIRTY
OFFENCES COMMITTED IN PUBLIC OFFICE
Section 343
Forcing someone to make a statement
(1) Whosoever as a public official involved in
1. a criminal proceeding, a proceeding for the purpose of detention by a public authority;
2. a proceeding to impose a summary fine; or
3. a disciplinary proceeding, disciplinary court or professional disciplinary court proceeding
physically abuses another, otherwise uses force against him, threatens him with force or abuses him mentally in order to force him to testify to or declare something in the proceeding or to fail to do so shall be liable to imprisonment from one to ten years.
(2) In less serious cases the penalty shall be imprisonment from six months to five years.
PART ONE
GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER VI
WITNESSES
Section 58
[Examination; Confrontation]
(2) A confrontation with other witnesses or with the accused in the preliminary proceedings shall be admissible if this appears necessary for the further proceedings.
PART ONE
GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER VII
EXPERTS AND INSPECTION
Section 74
[Challenge]
(2) The public prosecution office, the private prosecutor and the accused shall have a right of challenge. The appointed experts shall be made known to the persons entitled to challenge unless special circumstances present an obstacle thereto.
PART ONE
GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER IX
ARREST AND PROVISIONAL APPREHENSION
Section 114a
[Notification of Accused]
A copy of the warrant of arrest shall be handed over to the accused at the time of his arrest; if he does not have a sufficient command of the German language he shall additionally be provided with a translation in a language he understands. If it is not possible for a copy and, where necessary, a translation to be handed over to him,
he must be informed without delay, in a language he understands, of the grounds for his arrest and the accusations levied against him.
PART ONE
GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER IX
ARREST AND PROVISIONAL APPREHENSION
Section 114b
[Instruction of Arrested Accused; Rights]
(1) The arrested accused shall be instructed as to his rights without delay and in writing in a language he understands. If written instruction is clearly insufficient, oral instruction shall also be given. The same procedure shall apply mutatis mutandis if it is not possible to give instruction in writing; written instruction shall, however, be given subsequently insofar as this can reasonably be done. The accused shall confirm in writing that he was given instruction; if he refuses, this shall be documented.
(2) In the instruction pursuant to subsection (1) the accused shall be advised that he
1. shall, without delay, at the latest on the day after his apprehension, be brought before the court that is to examine him and decide on his further detention;
2. has the right to reply to the accusation or to remain silent;
3. may request that evidence be taken in his defence;
4. may at any time, also before his examination, consult with defence counsel of his choice;
5. has the right to demand an examination by a female or male physician of his choice;
6. may notify a relative or a person trusted by him, provided the purpose of the investigation is not endangered thereby.
An accused who does not have a sufficient command of the German language shall be advised that he may demand that an interpreter be called in to the proceedings free of charge. A foreign national shall be advised that he may demand notification of the consular representation of his native country and have messages communicated to the same.
PART ONE
GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER IX
ARREST AND PROVISIONAL APPREHENSION
Section 115
[Examination by the Court]
(1) If the accused is apprehended on the basis of the warrant of arrest, he shall be brought before the competent court without delay.
PART ONE
GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER IX
ARREST AND PROVISIONAL APPREHENSION
Section 115
[Examination by the Court]
(3) During the examination, the incriminating circumstances shall be pointed out to the accused and he shall be informed of his right to reply to the accusation or to remain silent. He shall be given an opportunity to remove grounds for suspicion and arrest and to present those facts which speak in his favour.
PART ONE
GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER X
EXAMINATION OF THE ACCUSED
Section 135.
[Immediate Examination]
The accused shall be brought before the judge without delay and shall be examined by him. He shall not be kept in custody by virtue of the order for longer than the end of the day following the moment he was first brought before the court .
PART ONE
GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER X
EXAMINATION OF THE ACCUSED
Section 136.
[First Examination]
(1) At the commencement of the first examination, the accused shall be informed of the offence with which he is charged and of the applicable criminal law provisions. He shall be advised that the law grants him the right to respond to the charges, or not to make any statement on the charges, and the right, at any stage, even prior to his examination, to consult with defence counsel of his choice. He shall further be advised that he may request evidence to be taken in his defence. In appropriate cases the accused shall also be informed that he may make a written statement, and of the possibility of perpetrator-victim mediation.
PART ONE
GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER X
EXAMINATION OF THE ACCUSED
Section 136a.
[Prohibited Methods of Examination]
(1) The accused’s freedom to make up his mind and to manifest his will shall not be impaired by ill-treatment, induced fatigue, physical interference, administration of drugs, torment, deception or hypnosis. Coercion may be used only as far as this is permitted by criminal procedure law. Threatening the accused with measures not permitted under its provisions or holding out the prospect of an advantage not envisaged by statute shall be prohibited.
PART ONE
GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER XI
DEFENCE
Section 137
[Defence Counsel]
(1) The accused may have the assistance of defence counsel at any stage of the proceedings. Not more than three defence counsel may be chosen.
PART ONE
GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER XI
DEFENCE
Section 138.
[Choice of Defence Counsel]
(2) Other persons may be engagedadmitted only with the approval of the court. In and, in cases where the assistance of defence counsel is mandatory and the person chosen is not among the persons who may be appointed as defence counsel, such person may additionally be admitted as counsel of the accused’s own choice only together with one who may be so appointed .
PART ONE
GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER XI
DEFENCE
Section 148.
[Defence Counsel-Client Communication]
(1) The accused shall be entitled to communicate with defence counsel in writing as well as orally even when he is not at liberty.
(2) If an accused who is not at liberty is strongly suspectedand if the subject of having committed anthe investigation is a criminal offence pursuant to section 129a1 29a, also in conjunction with section 129b1 29b subsection (1) of the Criminal Code, the court shall order that in communication with defence counsel documents or other items shall be rejected if the sender does not agree to their being first submitted to a judge. The same shall apply under the court competent pursuant to Section 148a. Where no warrant of arrest exists for a criminal offence pursuant to section 129a, alsoconditions set out in conjunction with section 129b subsection (1) of the Criminal Code,the first sentence to written communications between the decision shall be givenaccused and defence counsel in any other proceedings governed by the court which would be competent to issue a warrant of arrest.statute. Where written correspondence is subject to monitoring pursuant to the first or second sentence, devices which exclude the possibility of handing over documents and other items shall be put in place for conversations withbetween the accused and defence counsel .
PART TWO
PROCEEDINGS AT FIRST INSTANCE
CHAPTER VI
MAIN HEARING
Section 230.
[Failure of the Defendant to Appear]
(1) No main hearing shall be held against a defendant who fails to appear.
(2) If there is no sufficient excuse for the defendant’s failure to appear, an order shall be made to bring him before the court, or a warrant of arrest shall be issued .
PART TWO
PROCEEDINGS AT FIRST INSTANCE
CHAPTER VI
MAIN HEARING
Section 231.
[Defendant’s Duty to Bebe Present]
(1) A defendant who has appeared may not absent himself from the hearing. The presiding judge may take appropriate measures to prevent the defendant from absenting himself; he may also have the defendant kept in custody during an interruption of the hearing.
(2) If the defendant nevertheless absents himself, or fails to appear when an interrupted main hearing is continued, the main hearing may be concluded in his absence if he has already been examined on the indictment and the court does not consider his further presence to be necessary .
PART TWO
PROCEEDINGS AT FIRST INSTANCE
CHAPTER VI
MAIN HEARING
Section 232
[Main Hearing Despite the Defendant’s Failure to Appear]
(1) The main hearing may be held in the defendant’s absence if he was properly summoned and the summons referred to the fact that the hearing may take place in his absence and if only a fine up to 180 daily units, a warning with sentence reserved, a driving ban, forfeiture, confiscation, destroying or making an item unusable, or a combination thereof, is to be expected. A higher penalty or a measure of reform and prevention may not be imposed in these proceedings. Withdrawal of permission to drive shall be admissible if the defendant has been made aware of this possibility in the summons.
(2) The main hearing shall not take place without the defendant if the summons was effected by publication.
(3) The record of a judicial examination of the defendant shall be read out at the main hearing.
(4) A judgment given in the defendant’s absence must be served on him personally, together with reasons for the judgment, if it is not served on his defence counsel pursuant to Section 145a subsection (1).
PART TWO
PROCEEDINGS AT FIRST INSTANCE
CHAPTER VIII
PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ABSENT ACCUSED
Section 285
[Securing Evidence]
(1) No main hearing shall be held in respect of a person who is absent. Proceedings instituted against an absent accused shall serve the purpose of securing evidence in anticipation of his future presence in court .
PART TWO
PROCEEDINGS AT FIRST INSTANCE
CHAPTER VIII
PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ABSENT ACCUSED
Section 286
[Defence Counsel]
Defence counsel may represent the defendant. Relatives of the defendant shall also be permitted to act as representatives, even without a power of attorney .
1. In respect of an investigation under this Statute, a person:
(a) Shall not be compelled to incriminate himself or herself or to confess guilt;
(b) Shall not be subjected to any form of coercion, duress or threat, to torture or to any other form of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment;
(c) Shall, if questioned in a language other than a language the person fully understands and speaks, have, free of any cost, the assistance of a competent interpreter and such translations as are necessary to meet the requirements of fairness; and
(d) Shall not be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention, and shall not be deprived of his or her liberty except on such grounds and in accordance with such procedures as are established in this Statute.
2. Where there are grounds to believe that a person has committed a crime within the jurisdiction of the Court and that person is about to be questioned either by the Prosecutor, or by national authorities pursuant to a request made under Part 9, that person shall also have the following rights of which he or she shall be informed prior to being questioned:
(a) To be informed, prior to being questioned, that there are grounds to believe that he or she has committed a crime within the jurisdiction of the Court;
(b) To remain silent, without such silence being a consideration in the determination of guilt or innocence;
(c) To have legal assistance of the person's choosing, or, if the person does not have legal assistance, to have legal assistance assigned to him or her, in any case where the interests of justice so require, and without payment by the person in any such case if the person does not have sufficient means to pay for it; and
(d) To be questioned in the presence of counsel unless the person has voluntarily waived his or her right to counsel.
1. The accused shall be present during the trial.
2. If the accused, being present before the Court, continues to disrupt the trial, the Trial Chamber may remove the accused and shall make provision for him or her to observe the trial and instruct counsel from outside the courtroom, through the use of communications technology, if required. Such measures shall be taken only in exceptional circumstances after other reasonable alternatives have proved inadequate, and only for such duration as is strictly required.
1. Everyone shall be presumed innocent until proved guilty before the Court in accordance with the applicable law.
2. The onus is on the Prosecutor to prove the guilt of the accused.
3. In order to convict the accused, the Court must be convinced of the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt.
1. In the determination of any charge, the accused shall be entitled to a public hearing, having regard to the provisions of this Statute, to a fair hearing conducted impartially, and to the following minimum guarantees, in full equality:
(a) To be informed promptly and in detail of the nature, cause and content of the charge, in a language which the accused fully understands and speaks;
(b) To have adequate time and facilities for the preparation of the defence and to communicate freely with counsel of the accused's choosing in confidence;
(c) To be tried without undue delay;
(d) Subject to article 63, paragraph 2, to be present at the trial, to conduct the defence in person or through legal assistance of the accused's choosing, to be informed, if the accused does not have legal assistance, of this right and to have legal assistance assigned by the Court in any case where the interests of justice so require, and without payment if the accused lacks sufficient means to pay for it;
(e) To examine, or have examined, the witnesses against him or her and to obtain the attendance and examination of witnesses on his or her behalf under the same conditions as witnesses against him or her. The accused shall also be entitled to raise defences and to present other evidence admissible under this Statute;
(f) To have, free of any cost, the assistance of a competent interpreter and such translations as are necessary to meet the requirements of fairness, if any of the proceedings of or documents presented to the Court are not in a language which the accused fully understands and speaks;
(g) Not to be compelled to testify or to confess guilt and to remain silent, without such silence being a consideration in the determination of guilt or innocence;
(h) To make an unsworn oral or written statement in his or her defence; and
(i) Not to have imposed on him or her any reversal of the burden of proof or any onus of rebuttal.
2. In addition to any other disclosure provided for in this Statute, the Prosecutor shall, as soon as practicable, disclose to the defence evidence in the Prosecutor's possession or control which he or she believes shows or tends to show the innocence of the accused, or to mitigate the guilt of the accused, or which may affect the credibility of prosecution evidence. In case of doubt as to the application of this paragraph, the Court shall decide.