Constitution Section 20 — Protection in respect of conviction for offences

Part III — FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS — Right to Freedom

Constitutional

Summary

A person can only be found guilty of an offence if the act they did was against a law that was already in force at the time they did it. They also cannot be given a punishment that is harsher than the maximum penalty allowed by that same law at the time the offence was committed. No one can be taken to court and punished more than once for the same offence. And no person who is accused of an offence can be forced to give evidence against themselves.

Official Text

(1) No person shall be convicted of any offence except for violation of a law in force at the time of the commission of the Act charged as an offence, nor be subjected to a penalty greater than that which might have been inflicted under the law in force at the time of the commission of the offence.

(2) No person shall be prosecuted and punished for the same offence more than once.

(3) No person accused of any offence shall be compelled to be a witness against himself.