PART 2. SPECIFIC RULES
TITLE 1. PROTECTION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF THE INDIVIDUAL
139. Protection of right to personal liberty
1. No person shall be deprived of his or her personal liberty save as may be authorised by law in any of the following cases, that is to say-
PART 2. SPECIFIC RULES
TITLE 1. PROTECTION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF THE INDIVIDUAL
139. Protection of right to personal liberty
2 a. No law providing for preventive detention shall authorise the detention of a person for a longer period than three months unless a tribunal established for the purposes of this paragraph has reported before the expiration of the said period of three months that there is, in its opinion, sufficient cause for such detention.
PART 2. SPECIFIC RULES
TITLE 1. PROTECTION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF THE INDIVIDUAL
139. Protection of right to personal liberty
3. Any person who is arrested or detained shall be informed as soon as reasonably practicable, in a language that he or she understands, of the reasons for his or her arrest or detention and shall be permitted, at his or her own expense, to retain and instruct without delay a legal adviser of his or her own choice, being a person entitled to practise in Guyana as an attorney-at-law, and to hold communication with him or her.
PART 2. SPECIFIC RULES
TITLE 1. PROTECTION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF THE INDIVIDUAL
139. Protection of right to personal liberty
4. Any person who is arrested or detained-
a. for the purpose of bringing him or her before a court in execution of the order of a court; or
b. upon reasonable suspicion of his or her having committed or being about to commit a criminal offence, and who is not released, shall be brought before a court within seventy-two hours of arrest or detention, but the police may apply to the High Court for extensions of time; and if any person arrested or detained upon reasonable suspicion of his or her having committed or being about to commit a criminal offence is not tried within a reasonable time, then, without prejudice to any further proceedings which may be brought against him or her, he or she shall be released either unconditionally or upon reasonable conditions, including in particular such conditions as are reasonably necessary to ensure that he or she appears at a later date for trial or for proceedings preliminary to trial.
PART 2. SPECIFIC RULES
TITLE 1. PROTECTION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF THE INDIVIDUAL
139. Protection of right to personal liberty
6. Nothing in the provisions of paragraphs (3) and (4) shall apply to any person arrested or detained by virtue of the provisions of any law providing for preventive detention except in so far as the provisions of the said paragraph (3) require that he or she or she shall be permitted to retain and instruct a legal adviser and to hold communication with him or her.
PART 2. SPECIFIC RULES
TITLE 1. PROTECTION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF THE INDIVIDUAL
144. Provisions to secure protection of law
1. If any person is charged with a criminal offence, then, unless the charge is withdrawn, the case shall be afforded a fair hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial court established by law.
PART 2. SPECIFIC RULES
TITLE 1. PROTECTION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF THE INDIVIDUAL
144. Provisions to secure protection of law
2. It shall be the duty of a court to ascertain the truth in every case provided that every person who is charged with a criminal offence-
a. shall be presumed to be innocent until he or she is proved or has pleaded guilty;
b. shall be informed as soon as reasonably practicable, in a language that he or she understands and in detail, of the nature of the offence charged;
c. shall be given adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his or her defence;
d. shall be permitted to defend himself or herself before the court in person or by a legal representative of his or her own choice;
e. shall be afforded facilities to examine in person or by his or her legal representative the witnesses called by the prosecution before the court and to obtain the attendance and carry out the examination of witnesses to testify on his or her behalf before the court on the same conditions as those applying to witnesses called by the prosecution; and
f. shall be permitted to have without payment the assistance of an interpreter if he or she cannot understand the language used at the trial of the charge,
and, except with his or her consent, the trial shall not take place in his or her absence unless he or she so conducts himself or herself as to render the continuance of the proceedings in his or her presence impracticable and the court has ordered him or her to be removed and the trial to proceed in his or her absence or he or she fails without reasonable excuse (the proof whereof shall lie on him or her) to attend court.
PART 2. SPECIFIC RULES
TITLE 1. PROTECTION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF THE INDIVIDUAL
144. Provisions to secure protection of law
2. and, except with his or her consent, the trial shall not take place in his or her absence unless he or she so conducts himself or herself as to render the continuance of the proceedings in his or her presence impracticable and the court has ordered him or her to be removed and the trial to proceed in his or her absence or he or she fails without reasonable excuse (the proof whereof shall lie on him or her) to attend court.
PART 2. SPECIFIC RULES
TITLE 1. PROTECTION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF THE INDIVIDUAL
144. Provisions to secure protection of law
7. No person who is tried for a criminal offence shall be compelled to give evidence at the trial.
PART 2. SPECIFIC RULES
TITLE 1. PROTECTION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF THE INDIVIDUAL
144. Provisions to secure protection of law
8. Any court or other tribunal prescribed by law for the determination of the existence or extent of any civil right or obligation shall be established by law and shall be independent and impartial; and where proceedings for such a determination are instituted by any person before such a court or other tribunal, the case shall be given a fair hearing within a reasonable time.
9. Except with the agreement of all the parties thereto, all proceedings of every court and proceedings for the determination of the existence or extent of any civil right or obligation before any other tribunal, including the announcement of the decision of the court or other tribunal, shall be held in public.
PART 2. SPECIFIC RULES
TITLE 1. PROTECTION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF THE INDIVIDUAL
144. Provisions to secure protection of law
13. Nothing contained in paragraph (2)(d) shall be construed as entitling a person to legal representation at public expense but, subject thereto, it shall be the duty of the State to ensure that every person charged with a criminal offence is given a fair trial and accordingly to make provision for legal aid to be given in suitable cases.
PART II PROCEEDINGS BEFORE A MAGISTRATE
TITLE 4 – PROCEEDINGS ON APPEARANCE OF ACCUSED PERSON
56. When any person is apprehended upon a warrant he shall be brought before a magistrate as soon after he is so arrested as practicable, and the magistrate shall either proceed with the preliminary inquiry or postpone it to a future time, in which latter case he shall either commit the accused person to prison, or admit him to bail, or permit him to be at large on his own recognisance, according to the provisions hereinafter contained.
PART III PROCEEDINGS IN THE COURT
TITLE 11 – TRIAL
Arraignment
137. If an application is made to the Court by the accused person or the Director of Public Prosecutions for a postponement of the trial, and the Court is of opinion that the accused person ought to be allowed a further time, either to prepare for his defence or otherwise, or that for any reason it is advisable in the interests of justice, the Court may postpone the trial, either to a later day in the same sitting of the Court, or to the next subsequent sitting of the Court for the same county, as the Court thinks fit, upon any terms as to bail or otherwise the Court deems proper.
138. Every accused person, on being called upon to plead, shall be entitled to have the indictment on which he is to be tried read over to him.
PART III PROCEEDINGS IN THE COURT
TITLE 11 – TRIAL
PLEA
143. (1) When the accused person is called upon to plead, he may plead either guilty or not guilty, or the special pleas hereinbefore mentioned.
(2) If the accused person wilfully refuses to plead or will not answer directly, the Court may, if it thinks fit,
order the Registrar to enter a plea of not guilty, and the plea so entered shall have the same force and effect as if the accused person had actually so pleaded.
PART III PROCEEDINGS IN THE COURT
TITLE 11 – TRIAL
Further Proceedings at Trial
148. The accused person or his counsel shall be allowed, if he thinks fit, to open his case, and, after the conclusion of the opening, the accused person or his counsel shall be entitled to adduce evidence in support of the defence, and, when all the evidence is concluded, to sum up the evidence.
PART III PROCEEDINGS IN THE COURT
TITLE 11 – TRIAL
Further Proceedings at Trial
151. (1) If the Court is of opinion that the accused person is taken by surprise, in a manner likely to be prejudicial to his defence, by the production on behalf of the State of a witness who has not made any deposition, and of the intention to produce whom the accused has not had sufficient notice, or if the Court is of opinion that the State is entitled to produce rebutting evidence, the Court may, on the application of the accused person, or of the Director of Public Prosecutions, as the case may be, adjourn the further trial of the cause, or discharge the jury from giving a verdict and postpone the trial.
PART III PROCEEDINGS IN THE COURT
TITLE 11 – TRIAL
Further Proceedings at Trial
173. (1) Every accused person shall be entitled to be present in Court during the whole of his trial, unless he misconducts himself by so interrupting the proceedings as to render their continuance in his presence impracticable.
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.