Section 229 Evidence Act 2011
Section 229 Evidence Act 2011 is titled ‘Exclusion of evidence to contradict answers to questions testing veracity‘. It is under Part XII (TAKING OF ORAL EVIDENCE AND EXAMINATION OF WITNESSES) of the Act. It states as follows:
When a witness has been asked and has answered any question which is relevant to the inquiry only in so far as it tends to shake his credit by injuring his character, no evidence shall be given to contradict him; but if he answers falsely, he may afterwards be charged with an offence under section 191 of the Criminal Code and on conviction, shall be dealt with accordingly:
Provided that –
(a) if a witness is asked whether he has been previously convicted of any crime and denies it, evidence may be given of his previous conviction;
(b) If a witness is asked any question tending to impeach his impartiality and answers it by denying the facts suggested, he may be contradicted.