CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE

PART I
ON THE GENERAL PART

TITLE III
ON PROCEDURAL PARTICIPANTS

CHAPTER VI
ON SUSPECTS, DEFENDANTS AND CONVICTS

Article 63
Persons to conduct and attend the first questioning of the defendant under arrest

3. The questioning is attended by the person conducting it, the public prosecutor, the defender, the interpreter and the official tasked with taking precautionary security measures, when required, in addition to the official entrusted with putting the statements to writing.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE

PART I
ON THE GENERAL PART

TITLE IV
ON PROCEDURAL ACTS

CHAPTER II
ON THE TIME SCHEDULE, FORM AND DOCUMENTATION OF PROCEEDINGS

Article 82
The language to be used in the acts

1. Under penalty of nullity, procedural acts shall be performed using an official language of Timor-Leste.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE

PART I
ON THE GENERAL PART

TITLE IV
ON PROCEDURAL ACTS

CHAPTER II
ON THE TIME SCHEDULE, FORM AND DOCUMENTATION OF PROCEEDINGS

Article 83
Appointing an interpreter

1. An interpreter shall be appointed where a person, who does not either know or master the official language in use, is to make a statement.

2. In addition to the situation referred to in the preceding article, the appointment of an interpreter is compulsory :

(a) if it is necessary to translate a document written in a language other than one of the official languages of Timor-Leste or if such a document is not accompanied by a certified translation ;
(b) if a hearing-impaired person who cannot read, a speaking-impaired person who cannot write, or a hearing- and speaking-impaired person who cannot either read or write, is to make a statement.

2. The appointed interpreter takes the following oath : << I undertake, on my honour, to faithfully fulfil the role that has been entrusted to me >>

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE

PART IV
ON FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 354
Requirements for confirmation

1. In order for a criminal sentence imposed by a foreign court to be confirmed, the following requirements need to be met :

(d) that the defendant has been assisted by a defender and, where the defendant was not familiar with the language used in the proceeding, also by an interpreter ;