Chapter 2 - Basic rights and liberties
Section 7 -The right to life, personal liberty and integrity
No one shall be sentenced to death, tortured or otherwise treated in a manner violating human dignity.
Chapter 2 - Basic rights and liberties
Section 21 -Protection under the law
Everyone has the right to have his or her case dealt with appropriately and without undue delay by a legally competent court of law or other authority, as well as to have a decision pertaining to his or her rights or obligations reviewed by a court of law or other independent organ for the administration of justice.
Provisions concerning the publicity of proceedings, the right to be heard, the right to receive a reasoned decision and the right of appeal, as well as the other guarantees of a fair trial and good governance shall be laid down by an Act.
Chapter 2 — Counsel
Section 1
(1) A person suspected of an offence has the right to self take care of his/her defence in criminal investigations and in a trial.
(2) On the request of the suspect, a defence counsel is to be appointed for him/her, if :
(1) he/she is suspected of or charged with an offence punishable by no less than imprisonment for four months or an attempt of or participation in such an offence ; or
(2) he/she is under arrest or in detention.
(3) A defence counsel is to be appointed to a suspect ex officio, when :
(1) the suspect is incapable of defending himself/herself ;
(2) the suspect, who has not retained a defence counsel, is under 18 years of age, unless it is obvious that he/she has no need of a defence counsel ;
(3) the defence counsel retained by the suspect does not meet the qualifications required of a defence counsel or is incapable of defending the suspect ; or
(4) there is another special reason for the same.
Chapter 2 — Counsel
Section 1a
A court may appoint a counsel for the injured party for criminal investigations and, where the injured party has a claim in a case prosecuted by the public prosecutor, for the trial :
(1) in a case relating to a sexual offence referred to in chapter 20 of the Penal Code, unless this is for a special reason deemed unnecessary ; and
(2) in a criminal case referred to in chapter 21, section 1—6 of the Penal Code, if this is to be deemed necessary in view of the relationship between the injured party and the suspect of the offence.
Chapter 2 — Counsel
Section 2
(1) A person appointed under section 1 or 1a as defence counsel or counsel for the injured party must be a public legal aid attorney or an advocate. If there is no suitable public legal aid attorney or advocate available or there is another special reason for it, also another person with the degree of oikeustieteen kandidaatti/juris kandidat who by law is competent to act as an attorney may be appointed as defence counsel or counsel for the injured party. The person to be appointed as defence counsel or counsel for the injured party is to be reserved an opportunity to be heard on the appointment. (260/2002)
(2) When the suspect or the injured party has self nominated a person meeting the qualifications as defence counsel or counsel for the injured party, the nominee is to be appointed unless there are special reasons for the contrary.
Chapter 2 — Counsel
Section 3
On the conditions referred to in section 1a, an adequately qualified support person may be appointed for an injured party in an offence referred to in section 1a who does not make a claim in the trial and who is being heard in person in order to resolve the case, if it is deemed that he/she needs assistance in the criminal investigation or the trial.
Section 4
(1) A defence counsel, a counsel for the injured party and a support person are to be appointed by the court where the criminal case is pending or where a charge for the offence may be brought. Subject to the criteria provided in section 13(1) and (2) of the Legal Aid Act, the appointment may be given retroactively to concern the necessary measures already undertaken in the case. If the hearing of the case has been concluded and the appeal period or response period has not yet expired, the appointments mentioned above are to be made by the court which last dealt with the case. (260/2002)
(2) In matters referred to in paragraph (1), a district court has a quorum with a single judge and a court of appeal with one member attending. The appointment may be transferred to be dealt with in connection with the criminal case for which the appointment has been requested. When a request for an appointment is decided in chambers and it is not granted, the requesting party is to be notified of the date of the pertinent court order well in advance of the issue of the order.
(3) If the prerequisites for the appointment of a defence counsel, as referred to in section 1, no longer exist, the appointment shall lapse. The provisions on an attorney in the Legal Aid Act apply, in so far as appropriate, to the revocation of the appointment of a defence counsel, a counsel for the injured party or a support person. (260/2002)
Chapter 2 — Counsel
Section 7
(1) A defence counsel and a counsel for the injured party shall as soon as possible confer with his/her client and begin to prepare the counsel, as well as undertake the measures necessary for the upholding of the rights of the client. Where necessary, the counsel shall serve his/her client also on appeal in a higher court.
(2) The appointment as defence counsel or counsel for the injured party made in accordance with this chapter shall be in force also in the separate proceedings for the hearing of the civil claim of the injured party, opened by virtue of chapter 3, section 3.
Chapter 5 – Bringing a charge
Summons issued by the court and other preparation of the case
Section 8
(1) If the case is not dismissed at once, as provided in section 6, the court is to issue a summons without delay.
(2) The summons, the application for a summons and the claim referred to in chapter 3, section 10 are to be served on the defendant as provided in chapter 11 of the Code of Judicial Procedure on service of notices.
(3) For a special reason, the summonsing of the defendant may be carried out also by serving only the summons on him/her and by advising him/her of the circumstances underlying the summons, as referred to in section 3(1)(3)–3(1)(5). In this event, the application for a summons and the claim referred to in chapter 3, section 10 are to be posted to the defendant without delay and well in advance of the hearing so that he/she has sufficient time to prepare his/her defence.
Chapter 5 – Bringing a charge
Transfer of the case to the main hearing
Section 12
(1) After the conclusion of the preparation, the case is without delay to be transferred to the main hearing.
(2) A direct main hearing of the case is to be ordered, if a request for a written response or a preparatory hearing are deemed unnecessary.
Chapter 8 – Parties
Presence of parties
Section 3
A defendant who is in detention shall be present in person before the court when the case regarding which he/she is detained is being dealt with.
Chapter 8 – Parties
Hearing and decision in a criminal case regardless of the absence of the defendant
Section 11
(1) A case may be heard and decided regardless of the absence of the defendant, if his/her presence is not necessary for the resolution of the case and if he/she has been summoned to the hearing under such a threat. In this event, the defendant may be sentenced to a fine or to imprisonment for at most three months, and subjected to a forfeiture not to exceed EUR 10,000. (1472/2001)
(2) If the defendant is to be sentenced to a punishment or forfeiture under paragraph (1), but he/she has had a legal excuse that he/she could not have announced in advance, the defendant has the right to have the case reopened by notifying the court of the same within 30 days of verifiable service of a notice of the punishment or forfeiture on the defendant. If the defendant does not prove that he/she had a legal excuse, the case is to be dismissed.
(3) The absence of the defendant does not prevent the rejection of the charge or the other demands.
Chapter 2
Provision of assistance
Section 10
Presence
The competent authority of the requesting State, the parties as well as any other interested persons shall have the right to be present in accordance with Finnish law when witnesses, experts or parties are heard or another requested measure is carried out. An authority of the requesting State may, subject to the consent of the court or the pre trial investigation authority, participate in court proceedings and the pre trial investigation as well as put questions to the persons being examined.
On the request of an authority of the requesting State, the authority of the requesting State shall be notified of the time and place of the execution of requested measure well in advance, so that the authority, the parties and other interested persons may be present.
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.