453. (1) If the accused, in answer to the question prescribed under article 450, states that he is guilty of the offence, the court shall in the most solemn manner warn him of the legal consequences of such statement, and shall allow him a short time to retract it; but if the accused persists in his statement, such statement shall be recorded and the court shall proceed to pass on the accused such sentence as would according to law be passed on an accused convicted of the offence.
(2) Nevertheless, if there is good reason to doubt whether the offence has really taken place at all, or whether the accused is guilty of the offence, the court shall, notwithstanding the confession of the accused, order the trial of the cause to be proceeded with as if the accused had not pleaded guilty.
453A. (2) If the court is satisfied that the sanction or measure, or combination of sanctions and measures, requested as provided in sub-article (1) is one which it would have been lawful for it to impose upon conviction for the offence to which the accused has pleaded guilty and does not have cause to order the trial of the cause to be proceeded with for a reason referred to in article 453(2) or for any other reason to reject the request, and after explaining to the accused in clear terms the consequences of his request, the court shall, upon a plea of guilty by the accused, proceed to pass the sentence indicated to it by the parties declaring in its judgement that the sentence being awarded is being so awarded at the request of the parties.
658. Any confession made by the person charged or accused, whether in writing orally, by audiovisual means or by other means, may be received in evidence against or in favour of the person, as the case may be, who made it, provided it appears that such confession was made voluntarily, and not extorted or obtained by means of threats or intimidation, or of any promise or suggestion of favour.
659. (1) Where it is not possible to record a confession by audiovisual means in terms of article 355AUA(8)(e), if a confession is reduced to writing at the time it is made, the writing shall be produced; and only if it is proved that the writing has been destroyed or lost, may oral evidence, in lieu of such writing, be admitted for the purpose of proving the substance of such confession.
(2) Nothing in this article shall operate as a bar to the admissibility in evidence of any other confession verbally made before or after.
660. It shall not be permissible to give in evidence only a part of an audiovisual recording or of a written or oral statement against the accused, except in extraordinary circumstances which the court may allow.
661. A confession shall not be evidence except against the person making the same, and shall not operate to the prejudice of any other person.
1. Where the accused makes an admission of guilt pursuant to article 64, paragraph 8 (a), the Trial Chamber shall determine whether:
(a) The accused understands the nature and consequences of the admission of guilt;
(b) The admission is voluntarily made by the accused after sufficient consultation with defence counsel; and
(c) The admission of guilt is supported by the facts of the case that are contained in:
(i) The charges brought by the Prosecutor and admitted by the accused;
(ii) Any materials presented by the Prosecutor which supplement the charges and which the accused accepts; and
(iii) Any other evidence, such as the testimony of witnesses, presented by the Prosecutor or the accused.
2. Where the Trial Chamber is satisfied that the matters referred to in paragraph 1 are established, it shall consider the admission of guilt, together with any additional evidence presented, as establishing all the essential facts that are required to prove the crime to which the admission of guilt relates, and may convict the accused of that crime.
3. Where the Trial Chamber is not satisfied that the matters referred to in paragraph 1 are established, it shall consider the admission of guilt as not having been made, in which case it shall order that the trial be continued under the ordinary trial procedures provided by this Statute and may remit the case to another Trial Chamber.
4. Where the Trial Chamber is of the opinion that a more complete presentation of the facts of the case is required in the interests of justice, in particular the interests of the victims, the Trial Chamber may:
(a) Request the Prosecutor to present additional evidence, including the testimony of witnesses; or
(b) Order that the trial be continued under the ordinary trial procedures provided by this Statute, in which case it shall consider the admission of guilt as not having been made and may remit the case to another Trial Chamber.
5. Any discussions between the Prosecutor and the defence regarding modification of the charges, the admission of guilt or the penalty to be imposed shall not be binding on the Court.