Protection in respect of conviction for offences
Article 20 — Protection in respect of conviction for offences
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.
Plain English Summary
This article protects individuals from being punished for an act that was not illegal when they committed it, and prevents them from being punished more than once for the same crime. It also ensures that no one is forced to testify against themselves in court.
Key Points
- You cannot be convicted for an act that was not a crime at the time you committed it.
- The punishment you receive cannot be harsher than what the law allowed at the time you committed the offense.
- A person cannot be tried and punished more than once for the same offence.
- No one can be forced to give evidence against themselves in court.
Why It Matters
This article ensures fairness by preventing retroactive punishment and ensuring that legal proceedings are not used to force an accused person to incriminate themselves.
Landmark Judgements
No major landmark judgements.