To the defendant
If upon determination of this application you are held to be in contempt of court you may be imprisoned or fined, or your assets may be seized
Your rights
You have the right to be legally represented in the contempt proceedings.
You are entitled to a reasonable opportunity to obtain legal representation and to apply for legal aid which may be available without any means test.
You may be entitled to the services of an interpreter.
You are entitled to a reasonable time to prepare for the hearing of the contempt application against you. You are entitled but not obliged to give written and oral evidence in your defence. You have the right to remain silent and may not be compelled to answer any question the answer to which may incriminate you. If you do not attend the hearing, the court may proceed in your absence. Whether or not you attend, the court will only find you in contempt if satisfied beyond reasonable doubt of the facts constituting contempt and that they do constitute contempt. If the court is satisfied that you have committed a contempt, the court may punish you by a fine, imprisonment, confiscation of assets or other punishment permitted under the law. If you admit the contempt and wish to apologise to the court, that is likely to reduce the seriousness of any punishment by the court. The court's findings will be provided in writing as soon as practicable after the hearing. The court will sit in public, unless and to the extent that the court orders otherwise. Its findings will be made public.
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