PART III. – BASIC PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT.
Division 3. – Basic Rights.
Subdivision B. – Fundamental Rights.
36. FREEDOM FROM INHUMAN TREATMENT.
(1) No person shall be submitted to torture (whether physical or mental), or to treatment or punishment that is cruel or otherwise inhuman, or is inconsistent with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person.
PART III. – BASIC PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT.
Division 3. – Basic Rights.
Subdivision B. – Fundamental Rights.
37. PROTECTION OF THE LAW.
(3) A person charged with an offence shall, unless the charge is withdrawn, be afforded a fair hearing within a reasonable time, by an independent and impartial court.
(4) A person charged with an offence–
(a) shall be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law, but a law may place upon a person charged with an offence the burden of proving particular facts which are, or would be, peculiarly within his knowledge ; and
(b) shall be informed promptly in a language which he understands, and in detail, of the nature of the offence with which he is charged ; and
(c) shall be given adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defence ; and
(d) shall be permitted to have without payment the assistance of an interpreter if he cannot understand or speak the language used at the trial of the charge ; and
(e) shall be permitted to defend himself before the court in person or, at his own expense, by a legal representative of his own choice, or if he is a person entitled to legal aid, by the Public Solicitor or another legal representative assigned to him in accordance with law ; and
(f) shall be afforded facilities to examine in person or by his legal representative the witnesses called before the court by the prosecution, and to obtain the attendance and carry out the examination of witnesses and to testify before the court on his own behalf, on the same conditions as those applying to witnesses called by the prosecution.
(5) Except with his own consent, the trial shall not take place in his absence unless he so conducts himself as to render the continuance of the proceedings in his presence impracticable and the court orders him to be removed and the trial to proceed in his absence, but provision may be made by law for a charge that a person has committed an offence the maximum penalty for which does not include imprisonment, (except in default of payment of a fine), to be heard summarily in his absence if it is established that he has been duly served with a summons in respect of the alleged offence.
PART III. – BASIC PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT.
Division 3. – Basic Rights.
Subdivision B. – Fundamental Rights.
37. PROTECTION OF THE LAW.
(10) No person shall be compelled in the trial of an offence to be a witness against himself.
PART III. – BASIC PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT.
Division 3. – Basic Rights.
Subdivision B. – Fundamental Rights.
37. PROTECTION OF THE LAW.
(17) All persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person.
PART III. – BASIC PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT.
Division 3. – Basic Rights.
Subdivision B. – Fundamental Rights.
37. PROTECTION OF THE LAW.
(18) Accused persons shall be segregated from convicted persons and shall be subject to separate treatment appropriate to their status as unconvicted persons.
PART III. – BASIC PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT.
Division 3. – Basic Rights.
Subdivision C. – Qualified Rights.
42. LIBERTY OF THE PERSON.
(1) No person shall be deprived of his personal liberty except–
(a) in consequence of his unfitness to plead to a criminal charge ; or
(b) in the execution of the sentence or order of a court in respect of an offence of which he has been found guilty, or in the execution of the order of a court of record punishing him for contempt of itself or another court or tribunal ; or
(c) by reason of his failure to comply with the order of a court made to secure the fulfilment of an obligation (other than a contractual obligation) imposed upon him by law ; or
(d) upon reasonable suspicion of his having committed, or being about to commit, an offence ; or
(e) for the purpose of bringing him before a court in execution of the order of a court ; or
(f) for the purpose of preventing the introduction or spread of a disease or suspected disease, whether of humans, animals or plants, or for normal purposes of quarantine ; or
(g) for the purpose of preventing the unlawful entry of a person into Papua New Guinea, or for the purpose of effecting the expulsion, extradition or other lawful removal of a person from Papua New Guinea, or the taking of proceedings for any of those purposes ; or
(h) in the case of a person who is, or is reasonably suspected of being of unsound mind, or addicted to drugs or alcohol, or a vagrant, for the purposes of–
(i) his care or treatment or the protection of the community, under an order of a court; or (ii) taking prompt legal proceedings to obtain an order of a court of a type referred to in Subparagraph (i) ;
(i) in the case of a person who has not attained the age of 18 years, for the purpose of his education or welfare under the order of a court or with the consent of his guardian.
PART III. – BASIC PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT.
Division 3. – Basic Rights.
Subdivision C. – Qualified Rights.
42. LIBERTY OF THE PERSON.
(2) A person who is arrested or detained–
(a) shall be informed promptly, in a language that he understands, of the reasons for his arrest or detention and of any charge against him ; and
(b) shall be permitted whenever practicable to communicate without delay and in private with a member of his family or a personal friend, and with a lawyer of his choice (including the Public Solicitor if he is entitled to legal aid) ; and
(c) shall be given adequate opportunity to give instructions to a lawyer of his choice in the place in which he is detained,
and shall be informed immediately on his arrest or detention of his rights under this subsection.
(3) A person who is arrested or detained–
(a) for the purpose of being brought before a court in the execution of an order of a court ; or
(b) upon reasonable suspicion of his having committed, or being about to commit, an offence, shall, unless he is released, be brought without delay before a court or a judicial officer and, in a case referred to in paragraph (b), shall not be further held in custody in connection with the offence except by order of a court or judicial officer.
SCHEDULE 1 – THE CRIMINAL CODE.
PART VIII. – PROCEDURE.
Division 4. – Trial: Adjournment: Pleas: Practice.
560. PLEAS.
(2) If the accused person pleads, he may plead–
(a) that he is guilty of the offence charged in the indictment, or, with the consent of a State Prosecutor, of any other offence of which he might be convicted on the indictment ;
SCHEDULE 1 – THE CRIMINAL CODE.
PART VIII. – PROCEDURE.
Division 4. – Trial: Adjournment: Pleas: Practice.
561. PERSONS COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE.
(1) When a person has been committed for sentence for an offence, he shall be called on to plead to the indictment in the same manner as other persons, and may plead that he is guilty–
(a) of the offence charged in the indictment ; or
(b) with the consent of a State Prosecutor, of any other offence of which he might be convicted on the indictment.
(2) If, notwithstanding that the accused person pleads that he is guilty, it appears to the court on examination of the depositions of the witnesses that he has not in fact committed–
(a) the offence charged in the indictment ; or
(b) any other offence of which he might be convicted on the indictment,
the plea of not guilty shall be entered, and the trial shall proceed as in other cases when that plea is pleaded.
SCHEDULE 1 – THE CRIMINAL CODE.
PART VIII. – PROCEDURE.
Division 4. – Trial: Adjournment: Pleas: Practice.
562. STANDING MUTE.
(1) If an accused person, on being called on to plead to an indictment, will not plead or answer directly to the indictment, the court may, if it thinks fit, order a plea of not guilty to be entered on behalf of the accused person.
SCHEDULE 1 – THE CRIMINAL CODE.
PART VIII. – PROCEDURE.
Division 4. – Trial: Adjournment: Pleas: Practice.
570. DEFENCE OF ACCUSED.
(1) A person charged with an offence is entitled to make his defence at his trial and to have the witnesses examined and cross-examined by his lawyer.
(2) A person charged with an offence may, by leave of the court, have his defence conducted by another person who is not a lawyer.
571. PRESENCE OF ACCUSED.
(1) Subject to Subsection (2), a trial must take place in the presence of the accused person, unless he so conducts himself as to render the continuance of the proceedings in his presence impracticable, in which case the court–
(a) may order him to be removed ; and
(b) may direct the trial to proceed in his absence.
(2) The court may, in any case, if it thinks fit, permit a person charged with a misdemeanour to be absent during the whole or any part of the trial on such conditions as it thinks proper.
(3) If the accused person absents himself during the trial without leave, the court may direct a warrant to be issued to arrest him and bring him before the court.
572. EVIDENCE IN DEFENCE.
(1) At the close of the evidence for the prosecution, the proper officer of the court shall ask the accused person or his counsel whether the accused intends to adduce evidence in his defence or whether he desires to make a statement to the court before he or his counsel addresses the court.
(2) Whether or not the accused intends to adduce evidence in his defence he is entitled to make a statement to the court.
(3) When the accused makes a statement to the court he shall make the statement at the close of the evidence for the prosecution and before adducing any evidence in his defence.
1. En las investigaciones realizadas de conformidad con el presente Estatuto:
(a) Nadie será obligado a declarar contra sí mismo ni a declararse culpable;
(b) Nadie será sometido a forma alguna de coacción, intimidación o amenaza, a torturas ni a otros tratos o castigos crueles, inhumanos o degradantes;
(c) Quien haya de ser interrogado en un idioma que no sea el que comprende y habla perfectamente contará, sin cargo alguno, con los servicios de un intérprete competente y las traducciones que sean necesarias a los efectos de cumplir el requisito de equidad; y
(d) Nadie será sometido a arresto o detención arbitrarios ni será privado de su libertad salvo por los motivos previstos en el presente Estatuto y de conformidad con los procedimientos establecidos en él.
2. Cuando haya motivos para creer que una persona ha cometido un crimen de la competencia de la Corte y esa persona haya de ser interrogada por el Fiscal o por las autoridades nacionales, en cumplimiento de una solicitud hecha de conformidad con lo dispuesto en la Parte IX, tendrá además los derechos siguientes, de los que será informada antes del interrogatorio:
(a) A ser informada de que existen motivos para creer que ha cometido un crimen de la competencia de la Corte;
(b) A guardar silencio, sin que ello pueda tenerse en cuenta a los efectos de determinar su culpabilidad o inocencia;
(c) A ser asistida por un abogado defensor de su elección o, si no lo tuviere, a que se le asigne un defensor de oficio, siempre que fuere necesario en interés de la justicia y, en cualquier caso, sin cargo si careciere de medios suficientes; y
(d) A ser interrogada en presencia de su abogado, a menos que haya renunciado voluntariamente a su derecho a asistencia letrada.
1. El acusado estará presente durante el juicio.
2. Si el acusado, estando presente en la Corte, perturbare continuamente el juicio, la Sala de Primera Instancia podrá disponer que salga de ella y observe el proceso y dé instrucciones a su defensor desde fuera, utilizando, en caso necesario, tecnologías de comunicación. Esas medidas se adoptarán únicamente en circunstancias excepcionales, después de que se haya demostrado que no hay otras posibilidades razonables y adecuadas, y únicamente durante el tiempo que sea estrictamente necesario.
1. Se presumirá que toda persona es inocente mientras no se pruebe su culpabilidad ante la Corte de conformidad con el derecho aplicable.
2. Incumbirá al Fiscal probar la culpabilidad del acusado.
3. Para dictar sentencia condenatoria, la Corte deberá estar convencida de la culpabilidad del acusado más allá de toda duda razonable.
1. En la determinación de cualquier cargo, el acusado tendrá derecho a ser oído públicamente, habida cuenta de las disposiciones del presente Estatuto, y a una audiencia justa e imparcial, así como a las siguientes garantías mínimas en pie de plena igualdad:
(a) A ser informado sin demora y en forma detallada, en un idioma que comprenda y hable perfectamente, de la naturaleza, la causa y el contenido de los cargos que se le imputan;
(b) A disponer del tiempo y de los medios adecuados para la preparación de su defensa y a comunicarse libre y confidencialmente con un defensor de su elección;
(c) A ser juzgado sin dilaciones indebidas;
(d) Con sujeción a lo dispuesto en el párrafo 2 del artículo 63, el acusado tendrá derecho a hallarse presente en el proceso y a defenderse personalmente o ser asistido por un defensor de su elección; a ser informado, si no tuviera defensor, del derecho que le asiste a tenerlo y, siempre que el interés de la justicia lo exija, a que se le nombre defensor de oficio, gratuitamente si careciere de medios suficientes para pagarlo;
(e) A interrogar o hacer interrogar a los testigos de cargo y a obtener la comparecencia de los testigos de descargo y que éstos sean interrogados en las mismas condiciones que los testigos de cargo. El acusado tendrá derecho también a oponer excepciones y a presentar cualquier otra prueba admisible de conformidad con el presente Estatuto;
(f) A ser asistido gratuitamente por un intérprete competente y a obtener las traducciones necesarias para satisfacer los requisitos de equidad, si en las actuaciones ante la Corte o en los documentos presentados a la Corte se emplea un idioma que no comprende y no habla;
(g) A no ser obligado a declarar contra sí mismo ni a declararse culpable y a guardar silencio, sin que ello pueda tenerse en cuenta a los efectos de determinar su culpabilidad o inocencia;
(h) A declarar de palabra o por escrito en su defensa sin prestar juramento; y
(i) A que no se invierta la carga de la prueba ni le sea impuesta la carga de presentar contrapruebas.
2. Además de cualquier otra divulgación de información estipulada en el presente Estatuto, el Fiscal divulgará a la defensa, tan pronto como sea posible, las pruebas que obren en su poder o estén bajo su control y que, a su juicio, indiquen o tiendan a indicar la inocencia del acusado, o a atenuar su culpabilidad, o que puedan afectar a la credibilidad de las pruebas de cargo. En caso de duda acerca de la aplicación de este párrafo, la Corte decidirá.