Page:COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020.pdf/35

36 PART 5 TEMPORARY MEASURES FOR COURT PROCEEDINGS AND SYARIAH COURT PROCEEDINGS Conduct of court proceedings and Syariah Court proceedings using remote communication technology

28.—(1) Despite any written law or rule of law requiring the presence of any accused person or any witness in any court proceedings (whether a trial, inquiry, appeal or other court proceedings) or the giving of evidence in person, a court may, if all the conditions specified in subsection (2) are satisfied, by order in those proceedings require an accused person or a witness—
 * (a) to give evidence by means of a live video or live television link that is created using a remote communication technology approved by the Chief Justice; or
 * (b) if the accused person or witness makes an appearance (other than to give evidence) in those proceedings, to so appear by means of a live video, live television link or live audio link that is created using a remote communication technology approved by the Chief Justice.

(2) The conditions mentioned in subsection (1) are—
 * (a) in the case of an accused person, he or she makes an appearance or gives evidence—
 * (i) during the specified period; and
 * (ii) from a place within a court or a prison in Singapore, using the remote communication technology;
 * (b) in the case of a witness (whether in Singapore or elsewhere), he or she makes an appearance or gives evidence during the specified period from a place specified by the court using the remote communication technology, but only if he or she—
 * (i) is an expert witness; or