Section 34 Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018
Section 34 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018 is about Procedures for handling of evidence by the Commission. It is under Part VI (Enforcement Warrants and Requests for Information) of the Act.
(1) For the purpose of carrying out its functions and powers under this Act, the Commission may receive in evidence any statement, document, information or matter that may, in its opinion, assist it in dealing effectively with the matter before it, whether or not such evidence is otherwise admissible in a court of law.
(2) The Commission may take evidence on oath and for that purpose a member of the Commission, any employee or agent of the Commission duly authorised for that purpose may administer an oath.
(3) The Commission may require the evidence to be furnished to be given on oath and for that purpose a member of the Commission or any officer of the Commission duly authorised for that purpose may administer an oath.
(4) The Commission may pe1mit a person appearing as a witness before it to give evidence by tendering a written statement and, where the Commission deems fit, verify a written statement by oath.
(5) Where a person has appeared as a witness before the Commission pursuant to a notice issued in that behalf or has given evidence before the Commission, whether pursuant to a notice or not, the Commission may, if it deems fit, order any sum to be paid to that witness on account of his travelling expenses.
(6) The Commission shall ensure that business secrets of all parties concerned in investigation conducted by it are adequately protected during all stages of an investigation or inquiry.
(7) The Commission may hear orally any person who, in its opinion, will be affected by an investigation or inquiry being carried out by it.
