'Offences against administration of justice' in document 'Bosnia - Criminal Procedure Code'

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RELEVANT SECTIONS OF THE IMPLEMENTING LEGISLATION

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

PART ONE - BASIC PROVISIONS

CHAPTER X - MEASURES TO GUARANTEE THE PRESENCE OF A SUSPECT OR ACCUSED AND SUCCESSFUL CONDUCT OF CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS

Section 7 - EXECUTION OF CUSTODY AND PROCEDURE WITH PERSONS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY

Article 150 - Punishing Persons Insulting the Court

The Court shall impose a fine in an amount up to 5.000 KM on a Prosecutor, defense attorney, power of attorney, legal representative or injured party who in a submission or verbal statement insults the Court. An appeal shall be permitted against this decision. The high Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina shall be informed of the penalty pronounced on the Prosecutor, and the relevant Bar Association shall be informed of the penalty imposed on the defense attorney.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

PART TWO - COURSE OF THE PROCEEDINGS

CHAPTER XXI - THE MAIN TRIAL

Section 2 – MAIN TRIAL MANAGEMENT

Article 242 - Penalties for Disruption of Order

The judge or the presiding judge may exclude a person from the courtroom in order to protect the right of the accused to a fair and public trial or to maintain the dignity of trial and disturbance-free proceedings.

The judge or the presiding judge may order that the accused be removed from the courtroom for a certain period if the accused persists in disruptive conduct after being warned that such conduct may result in his removal from the courtroom. The judge or the presiding judge may continue the proceedings during this period if the accused is represented by the defense attorney.

Should the Prosecutor, defense attorney, injured party, legal representative, power of attorney of the injured party, witness, expert, interpreter or other person present at the main trial disrupt the order or disobey the orders of the judge or the presiding judge to maintain the order, the judge or the presiding judge shall warn the person in question. If the warning is ineffective, the judge or the presiding judge may order that the person in question be removed from the courtroom and be fined an amount up to 10.000 KM. Should the Prosecutor or defense attorney be removed from the courtroom, the judge or the presiding judge shall refer the matter to the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina or the Bar Association with which the defense attorney is affiliated, for further action.
Should a defense attorney or a power of attorney of the injured party continue to disrupt the order even after being fined, the judge or the presiding judge may prevent him from further representation at the main trial and fine him in the amount up to 30.000 KM. The decision on this issue with explanation shall be entered in the main trial record. An interlocutory appeal is allowed against this decision. The main trial shall be recessed or postponed to allow the accused to engage another defense attorney and prepare a defense.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

PART TWO - COURSE OF THE PROCEEDINGS

CHAPTER XXI - THE MAIN TRIAL

Section 2 – MAIN TRIAL MANAGEMENT

Article 243 - False Testimony Given by Witness or Expert

If there is grounded suspicion that a witness or an expert has given false testimony in the main trial, the judge or the presiding judge may order that a separate transcript be made of the witness’s or the expert’s testimony that shall be delivered to the Prosecutor.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

PART TWO - COURSE OF THE PROCEEDINGS

CHAPTER XXI - THE MAIN TRIAL

Section 7 – EVIDENTIARY PROCEDURE

Article 267 - Protection of Witnesses from Insults, Threats and Attacks

The judge or the presiding judge is obligated to protect the witness from insults, threats and attacks.

The judge or the presiding judge shall warn or fine a participant in the proceedings or any other person who insults, threatens or jeopardizes the safety of the witness before the Court. In the case of the fine, provisions of Article 242(1) of this Code shall be applied.

In the case of a serious threat to a witness, the judge or the presiding judge shall inform the Prosecutor for the purpose of undertaking criminal prosecution.

At the petition of the parties or the defense attorney, the judge or the presiding judge shall order the police to undertake measures necessary to protect the witness.

RELEVANT ROME STATUTE PROVISIONS

Article 70
Offences against the administration of justice
1. The Court shall have jurisdiction over the following offences against its administration of justice when committed intentionally:
(a) Giving false testimony when under an obligation pursuant to article 69, paragraph 1, to tell the truth;
(b) Presenting evidence that the party knows is false or forged;
(c) Corruptly influencing a witness, obstructing or interfering with the attendance or testimony of a witness, retaliating against a witness for giving testimony or destroying, tampering with or interfering with the collection of evidence;
(d) Impeding, intimidating or corruptly influencing an official of the Court for the purpose of forcing or persuading the official not to perform, or to perform improperly, his or her duties;
(e) Retaliating against an official of the Court on account of duties performed by that or another official;
(f) Soliciting or accepting a bribe as an official of the Court in connection with his or her official duties.