Except as otherwise provided, the court must have a witness swear under oath.
証人には、特別の定めがある場合を除き、宣誓をさせなければならない。
When examining a person under 16 years of age or person who is unable to understand the purpose of swearing under oath as a witness, the court may not make the witness swear under oath.
十六歳未満の者又は宣誓の趣旨を理解することができない者を証人として尋問する場合には、宣誓をさせることができない。
When examining a witness who falls under the provisions of Article 196 and does not exercise the right to refuse to testify, the court may choose not to have the witness swear under oath.
第百九十六条の規定に該当する証人で証言拒絶の権利を行使しないものを尋問する場合には、宣誓をさせないことができる。
A witness may refuse to swear under oath when being examined with regard to matters in which the witness, personally, or a person to whom the witness is related in any of the ways listed in the items of Article 196, is deeply interested.
証人は、自己又は自己と第百九十六条各号に掲げる関係を有する者に著しい利害関係のある事項について尋問を受けるときは、宣誓を拒むことができる。
The provisions of Articles 198 and 199 apply mutatis mutandis if a witness refuses to swear under oath, and the provisions of Articles 192 and 193 apply mutatis mutandis if, after a judicial decision finding no grounds for a refusal to testify becomes final and binding, the witness still refuses to testify, without a legitimate reason for refusing to do so.
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