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(1) In any proceedings before a court the court may cause oral evidence to be recorded by shorthand, tape recorder or by such other means as the Chief Justice may determine.

(2) The recording shall be done by an officer of the court or any other person appointed for that purpose.

(3) A record taken under subsection (1) shall be transcribed by a person referred to in subsection (2) and the transcript shall for all purposes be the official record of the proceedings in question.

(4) Before any person, other than the Judge, Chairman of a Regional Tribunal or the Magistrate records or transcribes any evidence under this section, an oath shall be tendered to be taken by that person for the accurate and faithful recording of that evidence.[As substituted by the Courts (Amendment) Act, 2002 (Act 620), sch. to s.7]

(5) An officer of the court who has once duly taken the oath shall not again be required to take the oath in respect of the same or of any subsequent case.

(6) The evidence shall be recorded under the supervision and control of the presiding Judge, Chairman or Magistrate who may at any time before appending his signature to the written statement of the evidence amend anything in it which he considers requires to be amended.[As amended by the Courts (Amendment) Act, 2002 (Act 620), sch. to s.7]

(7) Before signing, the presiding Judge, Chairman or Magistrate shall examine the statement and satisfy himself that it is in substance an accurate and faithful record of the oral evidence given. [As amended by the Courts (Amendment) Act, 2002 (Act 620), sch. to s.7]

(8) If an officer or other person employed to record or transcribe evidence under this section wilfully falsifies or misrepresents the true meaning of any oral evidence recorded under this section-

(a) he commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding one year or to both; or [As amended by the Courts (Amendment) Act, 2002 (Act 620), sch. to s.7]

(b) he may be dealt with summarily by the court as for contempt of court and be sentenced immediately to a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units or a term of imprisonment not exceeding six months.[As amended by the Courts (Amendment) Act, 2002 (Act 620), sch. to s.7]