2010 ED] CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES [CAP 167
19.(1) Every person charged with an offence has the right, Right to a fair
unless the charge is withdrawn, to a fair hearing within a and public
reasonable time by an independent and impartial court hearing
established by law.
(2) Every person who is charged with an offence−
(a) is innocent until the person is proved or has
pleaded guilty;
(b) shall be informed at the time the person is charged
or as soon as is reasonably practicable, in, as far as
is practicable, a language that the person
understands and in detail, of the nature of the
offence;
(c) shall be given adequate time and facilities to
prepare a defence to the charge;
(d) has a right to be defended before the court in
person, or, at the person’s own expense by a legal
practitioner of the person’s own choice or, where a
law so provides, by a legal practitioner provided at
public expense;
(e) has a right to examine, in person or by a legal
practitioner, the witnesses called by the
prosecution before any court, and to obtain the
attendance and carry out the examination of
witnesses to testify on the person’s behalf before
the court on the same conditions as those applying
to witnesses called by the prosecution;
(f) shall, as far as is practicable, have without payment
the assistance of an interpreter if the person cannot
understand the language used at the trial of the
charge;
(g) shall not be compelled to testify at the trial or
confess guilt;
(h) shall not have any adverse inference drawn from
the exercise of the right to silence either during the
course of the investigation or at the trial; and
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