CAMBODIA – CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE

BOOK THREE THE INVESTIGATIONS

TITLE 2 - INVESTIGATION OF FLAGRANTE DELICTO CASES

CHAPTER 2 - Investigative Measures

Article 91. Searches

Judicial police officers may conduct a search. In this case, the judicial police officer shall first obtain authorization from the prosecutor, even verbal authorization.

Judicial police officers shall conduct the search in front of the owner of the place or in front of two witnesses if there is no owner. The witnesses shall be appointed by the judicial police officers. The witnesses shall not be members of police or a member of the Royal Gendarmeries who are under joint search operation forces.

Judicial police officers may not conduct searches before 6:00 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m., except:

In the case as provided for in Article 86 (Definition of Flagrant Felony or Misdemeanor) of this Code;

In the case as provided for in Article 88 (Considering As Flagrant Felony or Misdemeanor) of this Code;

In the case when there is a call for help from inside the place;

In the case the search is conducted at the time that is open to the public;

In the case the search is conducted at a place where drugs are produced, kept, circulated, distributed or used.

Judicial police officers shall write a record of the search, which shall include:

The authorization by the prosecutor by indicating the date and time of such authorization;

The identification of the owner or of each witness.

Judicial police officers may not search the office of a lawyer. Only prosecutors or investigating judges may conduct a search at an office of a lawyer and only in the presence of the president of the Bar Association, or a delegate of the president of the Bar Association, or the concerned lawyer.

Judicial police officers may conduct a search of the building of a newspaper, news publishing enterprises or news broadcasting enterprises only in the presence of a prosecutor or an investigating judge who shall guarantee that the search shall not affect the freedom of the press and their professions nor unreasonably delay the broadcasting or publishing of the news.

CAMBODIA – CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE

BOOK THREE THE INVESTIGATIONS

TITLE 2 - INVESTIGATION OF FLAGRANTE DELICTO CASES

CHAPTER 2 - Investigative Measures

Article 93. Interview Records
Judicial police officers may order to appear or bring any person who is suspected of participating in commission of an offense to their units. The judicial police officers shall interview that suspect.
Each interview shall be recorded.

The record shall be an accurate account of the interviewed person’s responses. If necessary, the judicial police officers may find an interpreter who shall swear according to his or her own religion or beliefs to speak the truth. The interpreter shall not be chosen from among the police or the Royal Gendarmeries or any persons who are involved in this case.

Each page of the record shall bear the signature or finger-print of the interviewed person.

Before signing or affixing the finger-print, the person shall re-read the record. If necessary, the judicial police officer shall read the record aloud. The judicial police officers may call for a translator. When the person refuses to sign or affix his or her finger-print the judicial police officer shall mention in the record.

CAMBODIA – CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE

BOOK THREE THE INVESTIGATIONS

TITLE 2 - INVESTIGATION OF FLAGRANTE DELICTO CASES

CHAPTER 2 - Investigative Measures

Article 94. Order to Appear –in Case of Flagrant Crime Investigation.

Judicial police officers may invite any person, who can provide them with the relevant facts and listen to them.

The invited person shall turn up. In case of refusal, the judicial police officer shall inform the prosecutor who may order such person to appear. The order to appear shall include the identification of the relevant person, the date and the signature of the prosecutor and the order shall also be stamped. The order to appear allows the judicial police officers to use public forces to compel the person to appear. Paragraphs 2 to 5 of Article 93 (Interview Records) of this Code shall be applied.

CAMBODIA – CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE

BOOK THREE THE INVESTIGATIONS

Title 3 - PRIMARY INVESTIGATIONS

Single Chapter - Primary Investigations

Article 113. Search

When the primary investigation involves a felony or misdemeanor, judicial police officers may conduct a search and seize relevant exhibits.

Judicial police officers shall seek an expressed and real consent from the owner of the premises. The consent shall be hand-written by the owner of the premises. If the owner is illiterate, the judicial police officer shall state clearly in the record that the owner of the premises is illiterate and approves the search.

Where the owner of the premises is absent or denies the search, the president of the court of the first instance who has territorial jurisdiction may issue authorized search order upon request from the prosecutor. The prosecutor shall personally direct the search. The search shall be conducted with the presence of the owner of the premises, or with the presence of two witnesses if the owner is absent. The witnesses shall be selected by the prosecutor. The witnesses cannot be judicial police or Royal Gendarmeries who are in the joint operating forces in the search. The search cannot be conducted before six (6) o’clock in the morning and after six (6) o’clock in the evening.

The provisions of Article 92 (Affixation of Stamp on Exhibits) of this Code shall apply to the seized objects.

CAMBODIA – CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE

BOOK THREE THE INVESTIGATIONS

Title 3 - PRIMARY INVESTIGATIONS

Single Chapter - Primary Investigations

Article 114. Order to Appear –Primary Investigations

Judicial police officers may subpoena and interview any person who is suspected of involving in an offense or who may provide relevant information on the matter.

The subpoenaed person must appear. In case of resistance, the judicial police officer shall notify the prosecutor who may issue an order to appear. The order to appear shall state the identity of the relevant person, the date shall be signed by the prosecutor with stamp.

The order to appear shall allow the judicial police officer to use public forces to compel such person to appear.

CAMBODIA – CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE

BOOK THREE THE INVESTIGATIONS

Title 3 - PRIMARY INVESTIGATIONS

Single Chapter - Primary Investigations

Article 115. Record of Interviews –Primary Investigations Each interview must have a record.

The record shall be accurately produced from the statement of the relevant person. If necessary, the judicial police officer may call for an interpreter who must swear in accordance with his/her religion or beliefs to interpret the responses accurately. The interpreter cannot be selected from among the police, the Royal Gendarmeries, or any person who is involved in the case.

CAMBODIA – CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE

BOOK 4 INVESTIGATIONS

TITLE 1 - Investigating Judge

CHAPTER 2 - INVESTIGATION BY AN INVESTIGATING JUDGE

SECTION 4 Interviewing of Witnesses

Article 153. Interviewing of Witnesses
The investigating judge can interview any person whose response may be useful to the revelation of the truth.

The investigating judge shall interview witnesses separately, without the presence of the accused person and civil party. The investigating judge can also arrange a confrontation between the accused person, civil party and witnesses.

Any person who has been subpoenaed by the investigating judge shall appear.

In the case of refusal to appear, the investigating judge can request the public forces to cause the witness to appear. The investigating judge shall issue an order to appear. This order shall include identity of the witness and shall be dated and signed by the investigating judge with stamp.

Article 154. Oath of Witnesses
Before the interview, each witness shall swear in accordance with their religion or beliefs that he/she only speaks the truth. The formality of the oath shall be defined in the annex of this Code.

Article 155. Assistance of an Interpreter
The investigating judge can request for an interpreter to interview the witness as provided in Article 144 (Assistance of Interpreter/Translator) of this Code.

Article 156. Authorized Witness without Swearing
The following witnesses are authorized to make a statement without swearing:
1. The father, mother and ascendants of the accused person;
2. The sons, daughters and all other descendants of the accused person;
3. The brothers and sisters of the accuse person;
4. The brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws of the accused person;
5. The spouse of the accused person, even if they have been divorced;
6. Any child who is less than 14 years old.

Article 157. Impossibility to interview Some Witnesses
To respect rights to self-defense, the investigating judge cannot call as a witness any person to whom there is a lead of evidence to charge. In such case, the judge shall apply the procedures as provided in
Article 143 (Notification of Placing under Examination) of this Code.

Article 158. Visit the Resident of a Witness

If the witness is sick or cannot travel, the investigating judge and the court clerk can go to his/her resident or to the place where the witness stays to take the statement.

CAMBODIA – CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE

BOOK 4 INVESTIGATIONS

TITLE 1 - Investigating Judge

CHAPTER 2 - INVESTIGATION BY AN INVESTIGATING JUDGE

SECTION 5 - Search and Seizure of Exhibits

Article 159. Rules to be applied in Searching The investigating judge can conduct a search.

An investigating judge shall conduct a search in the presence of the occupant of a place or if there is no presence of the occupant, the search shall be conducted in the presence of two (2) witnesses to be selected by the judge. The witnesses cannot be police or Royal Gendarmeries which is under the joint operation forces of the search.

An investigating judge cannot begin a search before 6:00 A.M and after 6:00 P.M., except in the case of searching:

At a place that is open to the public;

At all places where drugs are produced, stored, trafficked, distributed or used.

The search of a lawyer’s office shall only be conducted in the presence of the president of the Bar Association or his/her delegates.

The investigating judge shall prepare the search record to be signed by him/herself and the court clerk together with the occupant of the place or two (2) witnesses.

The record shall include the identification of the occupant of the place, or each witness. If the search is conducted in a lawyer’s office, the record shall note the presence of the president of the Bar Association or his/her delegates.

Article 160. Affixation of Stamp on Exhibits

An investigating judge may seize exhibits. The investigating judge shall affix stamp on the exhibits.

After showing the seized exhibits to the occupant of the place or to the two (2) witnesses, the investigating judge shall make a record on the seizure, including an inventory list of the seized exhibits. The record of such seizure shall be signed by the investigating judge and court clerk together with the occupant of the place or two (2) witnesses. The record shall include the identification of the occupant of the place or of each witness.

Article 161. Return of Seized Items to Owner by an Investigating Judge

When a settlement warrant has not been issued, the investigating judge shall have the competence to
return the seized items to the owner if there is no clear dispute over the ownership of the seized items.

The investigating judge shall make a well motivated decision after receiving an opinion from the prosecutor. The decision shall be immediately notified to the complainant and his/her appointed lawyer, if any.

The items shall not be returned to the requesting person if this measure may create obstacles to ascertaining the truth.

Objects which cause danger to human-being or property, such as weapons, explosives, or items illegally possessed, shall not be returned to the owner. Such objects shall be confiscated as state property.

CAMBODIA – CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE

BOOK 4 INVESTIGATIONS

TITLE 1 - Investigating Judge

CHAPTER 2 - INVESTIGATION BY AN INVESTIGATING JUDGE

SECTION 8 – Rogatory Commissions

Article 179. Rules for Interview by a Judicial Police Officer

A judicial police officer can summon and interview witnesses.

Before answering any questions, each witness shall swear according to his/her religion or beliefs that they will speak only the truth, except for the witnesses listed in Article 156 (Authorized Witness without Swearing) who are exempted from taking an oath. To respect the rights to self-defense, the judicial police officer cannot interview as a witness any person with lead of quilt on that person. If the interview of any witness indicates the potential guilt of that witness, the judicial police officer shall stop the interview and shall report it to the investigating judge. A judicial police officer may call on an interpreter who shall swear according to his or her religion or beliefs that he/ she will assist the court by interpreting fairly and accurately.

A person who is called for questioning as a witness shall appear. In case of refusal, the judicial police officer shall report to the investigating judge, who can issue a warrant to the witness to appear in which the identification of the witness shall be specified. This warrant shall be dated, signed by the investigating judge and sealed. The warrant to the witness to appear shall authorize the judicial police officers to use public forces for compulsory appearance to the witness.

The provisions of paragraphs 2 to 5 of Article 93 (Record of Interview) of this Code shall be applied on the record of witness interview.

CAMBODIA – CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE

BOOK 4 INVESTIGATIONS

TITLE 1 - Investigating Judge

CHAPTER 2 - INVESTIGATION BY AN INVESTIGATING JUDGE

SECTION 8 – Rogatory Commissions

Article 181. Search and Seizure Conducted by a Judicial Police Officer

Judicial police officers can search and seize objects according to the provisions of Articles 91 (Search) and 92 (Affixation of Stamp on Exhibits) of this Code. However, authorization as stated in the second phrase of paragraph 1 of Article 91 (Search) of this Code shall be provided by the investigating judge.

CAMBODIA – CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE

BOOK 5 JUDGMENTS

TITLE 1 - Judgment of Court of the First Instance

CHAPTER 2 - APPEARANCE OF THE PARTIES

SECTION 4 - The Appearance of Witnesses

Article 315. Appearance of Witnesses
Witnesses shall appear before the court in accordance with the summons. The court may use public forces in order to make the witnesses to appear.

CAMBODIA – CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE

BOOK 5 JUDGMENTS

TITLE 1 - Judgment of Court of the First Instance

CHAPTER 3 - CONFRONTATIONS

SECTION 3 - Conduct of Confrontations

Article 325. Interview of an Accused Person

The chairman of hearing shall inform the accused person of the acts that he/she is accused of and shall conduct the interview of the accused person. The chairman of hearing shall ask any questions which he/she believes that they are conducive to ascertaining the truth. The chairman of hearing has a duty to ask the accused person any questions leading either to charge or to discharge the accused person.

After the chairman of hearing questions the accused person, the prosecutor, the lawyers and all the parties shall be allowed to question the accused person. All questions shall be asked with the permission of the chairman of hearing. Except for questions asked by prosecutors and lawyers, all questions shall be asked through the chairman of hearing. In case of objection to a question, the chairman of hearing shall decide discretionarily if the question can be asked or not.

Article 93
Other forms of cooperation
1. States Parties shall, in accordance with the provisions of this Part and under procedures of national law, comply with requests by the Court to provide the following assistance in relation to investigations or prosecutions:
(a) The identification and whereabouts of persons or the location of items;
(b) The taking of evidence, including testimony under oath, and the production of evidence, including expert opinions and reports necessary to the Court;
(c) The questioning of any person being investigated or prosecuted;
(d) The service of documents, including judicial documents;
(e) Facilitating the voluntary appearance of persons as witnesses or experts before the Court;
(f) The temporary transfer of persons as provided in paragraph 7;
(g) The examination of places or sites, including the exhumation and examination of grave sites;
(h) The execution of searches and seizures;
(i) The provision of records and documents, including official records and documents;
(j) The protection of victims and witnesses and the preservation of evidence;
(k) The identification, tracing and freezing or seizure of proceeds, property and assets and instrumentalities of crimes for the purpose of eventual forfeiture, without prejudice to the rights of bona fide third parties; and
(l) Any other type of assistance which is not prohibited by the law of the requested State, with a view to facilitating the investigation and prosecution of crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court.
2. The Court shall have the authority to provide an assurance to a witness or an expert appearing before the Court that he or she will not be prosecuted, detained or subjected to any restriction of personal freedom by the Court in respect of any act or omission that preceded the departure of that person from the requested State.
3. Where execution of a particular measure of assistance detailed in a request presented under paragraph 1, is prohibited in the requested State on the basis of an existing fundamental legal principle of general application, the requested State shall promptly consult with the Court to try to resolve the matter. In the consultations, consideration should be given to whether the assistance can be rendered in another manner or subject to conditions. If after consultations the matter cannot be resolved, the Court shall modify the request as necessary.
4. In accordance with article 72, a State Party may deny a request for assistance, in whole or in part, only if the request concerns the production of any documents or disclosure of evidence which relates to its national security.
5. Before denying a request for assistance under paragraph 1 (l), the requested State shall consider whether the assistance can be provided subject to specified conditions, or whether the assistance can be provided at a later date or in an alternative manner, provided that if the Court or the Prosecutor accepts the assistance subject to conditions, the Court or the Prosecutor shall abide by them.
6. If a request for assistance is denied, the requested State Party shall promptly inform the Court or the Prosecutor of the reasons for such denial.
7. (a) The Court may request the temporary transfer of a person in custody for purposes of identification or for obtaining testimony or other assistance. The person may be transferred if the following conditions are fulfilled:
(i) The person freely gives his or her informed consent to the transfer; and
(ii) The requested State agrees to the transfer, subject to such conditions as that State and the Court may agree.
(b) The person being transferred shall remain in custody. When the purposes of the transfer have been fulfilled, the Court shall return the person without delay to the requested State.
8. (a) The Court shall ensure the confidentiality of documents and information, except as required for the investigation and proceedings described in the request.
(b) The requested State may, when necessary, transmit documents or information to the Prosecutor on a confidential basis. The Prosecutor may then use them solely for the purpose of generating new evidence.
(c) The requested State may, on its own motion or at the request of the Prosecutor, subsequently consent to the disclosure of such documents or information. They may then be used as evidence pursuant to the provisions of Parts 5 and 6 and in accordance with the Rules of Procedure and Evidence.
9. (a) (i) In the event that a State Party receives competing requests, other than for surrender or extradition, from the Court and from another State pursuant to an international obligation, the State Party shall endeavour, in consultation with the Court and the other State, to meet both requests, if necessary by postponing or attaching conditions to one or the other request.
(ii) Failing that, competing requests shall be resolved in accordance with the principles established in article 90.
(b) Where, however, the request from the Court concerns information, property or persons which are subject to the control of a third State or an international organization by virtue of an international agreement, the requested States shall so inform the Court and the Court shall direct its request to the third State or international organization.
10. (a) The Court may, upon request, cooperate with and provide assistance to a State Party conducting an investigation into or trial in respect of conduct which constitutes a crime within the
jurisdiction of the Court or which constitutes a serious crime under the national law of the requesting State.
(b) (i) The assistance provided under subparagraph (a) shall include, inter alia:
a. The transmission of statements, documents or other types of evidence obtained in the course of an investigation or a trial conducted by the Court; and
b. The questioning of any person detained by order of the Court;
(ii) In the case of assistance under subparagraph (b) (i) a:
a. If the documents or other types of evidence have been obtained with the assistance of a State, such transmission shall require the consent of that State;
b. If the statements, documents or other types of evidence have been provided by a witness or expert, such transmission shall be subject to the provisions of article 68.
(c) The Court may, under the conditions set out in this paragraph, grant a request for assistance under this paragraph from a State which is not a Party to this Statute.