Tunisia-Tunisia approves remote trials

The Tunisian authorities have chosen to enable remote judicial trials to keep social distancing, in order to stop the spread of the coronavirus, according to a decree issued by the Official Gazette of the Republic of Tunisia on Thursday.

The decree provides for the addition of a division to the Code of Criminal Procedure, through which the court can determine, on its own action or at the behest of the public prosecutor or the defendant, the imprisoned defendant’s attendance of the trial sessions and the pronouncement of the verdict issued using audiovisual means of communication.

The decree also demands that the matter be put forward to the Public Prosecution to issue an opinion and that it be with the consent of the defendant.

The decree also stipulates that in the event of serious danger, or for the purpose of preventing a communicable disease, the court may decide to implement this procedure, without the approval of the imprisoned defendant