Article 16. Presumption of Innocence

A person accused of committing a crime shall be presumed innocent until his guilt is proved in the manner prescribed by law by way of a public court trial and established by a court sentence that has entered into legal force.

All doubts regarding guilt, if opportunities to eliminate them have been exhausted, must be resolved in favor of the suspect, the accused, the defendant, or the convict.

The suspect, the accused, or the defendant shall not be obliged to prove his innocence and may exercise the right to remain silent at any time.

If a personʼs confession of his guilt is the only evidence against him, he may not be found guilty or subject to punishment.

No one may be arrested, detained, taken into custody, kept in custody, or restricted in his liberty in any other way except on the basis of law.

Arrest, taking into custody and keeping in custody shall be allowed only by a court decision. A person may not be detained for more than forty-eight hours without a court decision.

No one may be subjected to torture, violence, other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.