Syariah Courts Criminal Procedure Code · 2021 Revised Edition · Part · Information to Religious Enforcement Officers and Police Officers and Their Powers to Investigate
83. Failure to account for presence
Official textFrom Attorney General's Chambers, unchanged
Subject to the provisions of any other written law, where -
a person arrested by a Religious Enforcement Officer or police officer was found by him at a place at or about the time the offence for which he was arrested is alleged to have been committed;
that or another Religious Enforcement Officer or police officer investigating the offence reasonably believes that the presence of the person at that place and at that time may be attributable to the latter's participation in the commission of the offence;
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Criminal Procedure Code
the Religious Enforcement Officer or police officer informs the person that he so believes, and requests him to account for his presence; and
the person fails or refuses to do so, then if, in any proceedings against the person for the offence, evidence of those matters is given, subsection (2) applies.
Where this subsection applies, the Syariah Court in determining whether -
there is a case to answer: and
the accused is guilty of the offence charged, may draw such inferences from the failure or refusal as appear proper.
Subsections (I) and (2) do not apply unless the accused was told in ordinary language by the Religious Enforcement Officer or police officer when making the request mentioned in subsection (l)(c) what the effect of this section would be if he failed or refused to comply with the request.
Religious Enforcement Officer
"Religious Enforcement Officer" has the same meaning assigned to it under the Syariah Courts Act;
This section does not preclude the drawing of any inference from a failure or refusal of the accused to account for his presence at a place which could properly be drawn apart from this section.
Circumstances in which inferences may be drawn from accused's failure to mention particular facts when charged etc.
Terms defined in s 2
offence
Defined · s 2"offence" means any act or omission made punishable by this Code or any other written law for the time being in force;
police officer
Defined · s 2"police officer" means any member of the Royal Brunei Police Force, and includes a special police officer when mobilised or deemed to be mobilised for active service and any person vested under any written law with the powers of a police officer;
Religious Enforcement Officer
Defined · s 2"Religious Enforcement Officer" has the same meaning assigned to it under the Syariah Courts Act;
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Proceedings in Prosecution
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Special Proceedings
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