Inquests Act, 1959 (Act No. 58 of 1959)20. Offences in connection with inquests |
| (1) | Any person who wilfully insults a judicial officer or assessor during his sitting at an inquest, or a clerk or other officer of the court present at the inquest, or wilfully interrupts the proceedings of the inquest or otherwise misbehaves himself in the place where the inquest is being held, shall, in addition to the judicial officer having him removed and detained until after the termination of the sitting, be liable to be sentenced summarily or upon summons to a fine not exceeding R2 000 or in default of payment to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months, or to such imprisonment without the option of a fine. |
| (2) | In any case in which a magistrate commits or fines any person under subsection (1), the magistrate shall without delay transmit to the registrar of the provincial or local division of the Supreme Court of South Africa having jurisdiction in the area wherein the inquest was held, for the consideration and review of a judge in chambers, a statement, certified to be true and correct, of the grounds and reasons for his proceedings. |
| (3) | Any person who at an inquest gives false evidence knowing it to be false, or not knowing or believing it to be true, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to the penalties prescribed by law for perjury. |
| (4) | Any person who prejudices, influences or anticipates the proceedings or findings at an inquest shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding R2 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment. |
[Section 20 substituted by section 20 of Act No. 45 of 1990]