Courts allow police to testify online in certain cases

The judiciary has introduced a measure allowing police officers to provide testimony through online platforms in certain cases.

The amendment was approved during a general assembly of Supreme Court justices and came into effect on Wednesday. It forms part of the ‘Regulation on Conducting Court Hearings and Trials via Audio and Video Conferencing’.

Under the amendment, presiding judges are authorised to permit police officers appearing as state witnesses to give evidence through audio or video link from a police station, subject to specific conditions.

The amendment has been included as subsection (h) to Article 3 of the regulation.

Police officers may provide testimony online if they are unable to attend court due to the nature of their duties, if they are participating in a training programme, or if they are located on an island different from where the court is based.

The judiciary stated that judges may conduct proceedings through online platforms at their discretion, provided that due process is maintained.

The regulation also allows expert witnesses to provide testimony through online platforms under certain circumstances.