Power to punish for contempt

Section 19 of the Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007 deals with power to punish for contempt. Any person who is guilty of contempt of the Tribunal by using any insulting or threatening language, or by causing any interruption or disturbance in the proceedings of such Tribunal shall, on conviction, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years. The Act came into force on 15 Jun 2008.

(1) Any person who is guilty of contempt of the Tribunal by using any insulting or threatening language, or by causing any interruption or disturbance in the proceedings of such Tribunal shall, on conviction, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years.

(2) For the purposes of trying an offence under this section, the provisions of sections 14, 15, 17, 18 and 20 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 (70 of 1971) shall mutatis mutandis apply, as if a reference therein to--

(a) Supreme Court or High Court were a reference to the Tribunal;

(b) Chief Justice were a reference to the Chairperson;

(c) Judge were a reference to the Judicial or Administrative Member of the Tribunal;

(d) Advocate-General were a reference to the prosecutor; and

(e) Court were a reference to the Tribunal.

Section 19, The Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007 (Act 55 of 2007).