Section 21, Local Courts Act, 1963

(1) Every Local Court shall have the power— (a) to require any person actually before the Court to give evidence in any case and to answer any question put to him by the Court; and (b) to summon before the Court for the purpose of giving or producing evidence any person in Sierra Leone; No. 20 Local Courts 1963 A 151 Provided that— (a) any person so summoned to give evidence shall be entitled to receive his reasonable travelling and lodging expenses in advance and reasonable compensation for his loss of time; (b) no person other than an accused person shall be bound to answer any question or produce any document the answer to which or the contents of which might tend to incriminate him and no accused person shall be required to answer or produce any question or document the answer to which or the contents of which might tend to incriminate him in respect of an offence other than that for which he is being tried. (2) Any person summoned as a witness who refuses or neglects, without sufficient cause, to appear or to produce any document required by the summons to be produced may be compelled by warrant to attend and shall be liable to a fine not exceeding twenty pounds. (3) Any witness who refuses to take any oath or to make an affirmation or to give evidence or answer any lawful question shall be guilty of contempt of court and liable to a fine not exceeding twenty pounds or imprisonment not exceeding three months. [Margin: Joinder of parties.]