| (1) |
A party to proceedings before any Superior Court in which the attendance of witnesses or the production of any document or thing is required, may procure the attendance of any witness or the production of any document or thing in the manner provided for in the rules of that court. |
| (2) |
Whenever any person subpoenaed to attend any proceedings as a witness or to produce any document or thing— |
| (a) |
fails without reasonable excuse to obey the subpoena and it appears from the return of the person who served such subpoena, or from evidence given under oath, that— |
| (i) |
the subpoena was served upon the person to whom it is directed and that his or her reasonable expenses calculated in accordance with the tariff framed under section 37(1) have been paid or offered to him or her; or |
| (ii) |
he or she is evading service; or |
| (b) |
without leave of the court fails to remain in attendance, |
the court concerned may issue a warrant directing that he or she be arrested and brought before the court at a time and place stated in the warrant or as soon thereafter as possible.
| (3) |
A person arrested under any such warrant may be detained thereunder in any prison or other place of detention or in the custody of the person who is in charge of him or her, with a view to securing his or her presence as a witness or production of any document or thing at the proceedings concerned: Provided that any judge of the court concerned may release him or her on a recognisance with or without sureties to attend as a witness or to produce any document or thing as required. |
| (4) |
Any person subpoenaed to attend any proceedings as a witness or to produce any document or thing who fails without reasonable excuse to obey such subpoena, is guilty of an offence and liable upon conviction to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months. |
| (5) |
If a person who has entered into any recognisance in terms of subsection (3) to attend such proceedings as a witness or to produce any document or thing fails without reasonable excuse so to attend or to produce such document or thing, he or she forfeits his or her recognisance and is guilty of an offence and liable upon conviction to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months. |
Contingency Fees Act, 1997
