Description

"Any person accused of an offence before a Criminal Court shall be a competent witness for the defence and may give evidence on oath in disproof of the charges made against him or any person charged with him at the same trial;
Provided that:

• He shall not be called as a witness except on his own written request;
• His failure to give evidence shall not be made the subject of any comment by any party or the Court, nor shall it give rise to any presumption against himself or any other person charged with him at the same trial.

Any person against whom proceedings are instituted in any Criminal Court under sections 98, 107, 108, 109, 110, or under Chapter IX, or under Parts B, C, or D of Chapter X, may offer himself as a witness in such proceedings;
Provided that in proceedings under sections 108, 109, or 110, the failure of such person to give evidence shall not be made the subject of any comment by any party or the Court, nor shall it give rise to any presumption against him or any other person proceeded against together with him in the same inquiry."