s.15Evidence
15
Section 15Part 0 —

Evidence

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For the purposes of an investigation, the Ombudsman may require any Minister, officer or member of the government entity concerned, or any other person who, in his opinion, is able to furnish information or produce documents relevant to the investigation to furnish any such information or produce any such document.
Subject as herein, for the purposes of any such investigation the Ombudsman shall have the same powers as the Grand Court in respect of the attendance and examination of witnesses (including the administration of oaths or affirmations and the examination of witnesses abroad) and in respect of the production of documents.
Subject to a specific declaration to the contrary by the Governor acting in his discretion, no obligation to maintain secrecy or other restriction upon the disclosure of information obtained by or furnished to persons in Government service, whether imposed by any law or by any rule of law, shall apply to the disclosure of information for the purposes of an investigation under this Law; and subject as aforesaid, Government shall not be entitled in relation to any such investigation to any such privilege in respect of the production of documents or the giving of evidence to the Ombudsman as is allowed by law in legal proceedings.
No person shall be required or authorised by virtue of this Law to furnish any information or answer any question relating to proceedings of Cabinet or of any committee of Cabinet or to produce so much of any document as relates to such proceedings, and for the purposes of this subsection a certificate issued by the Governor and certifying that any information, question, document or part of a document so relates shall be conclusive.
Subject to subsection (3), no person shall be compelled for the purposes of an investigation under this Law to give any evidence or produce any document which he could not be compelled to give or produce in civil proceedings before the Grand Court.
The Governor shall not be compelled for the purposes of an investigation under this Law to give any evidence before the Ombudsman.
Subject to this section, no information, answer, documents or thing shall be withheld from the Ombudsman on the ground that its disclosure would be contrary to the public interest.

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