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Can written confession of crime be retracted?

I have been advised that under UAE law, a written confession of a crime, whether by electronic or other means, cannot be later retracted.

How true is this and what are the nuances? What are the relevant articles of law?

Dr. Hassan Al Marzooqi Advocates & Legal Consultants
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20 Jul 2017, 06:06

Dear,

The law is clear regarding confession but such can be justified and retracted on the basis of secondary evidence & witnesses if the said crime was committed under influence of another or due to exploitation. But needs to be proved. Rest the decision lies with the Court only.

Regards

20 Jul 2017, 06:58

Thank you, but what are the relevant articles of law? I would like to read them myself.

20 Jul 2017, 08:39

Dear,

You may go through the Law of Evidence in Civil and Commercial Transactions Federal Law No. 10 of 1992; Federal Law No. 3 of 1987 and Federal Law No. 35 of 1992.

Regards

20 Jul 2017, 18:09

I have gone through all of Fed Law 3 as this law is available on this website. However, neither Fed Law 10 nor 35 of 1992 seem to appear on this site. I have also failed to find them using an internet search. Do you have a link for these laws translated into English?

Also, I did not see anything in Fed Law 3 of 1987 referring to the retractability or otherwise of a written confession. Would you be able to point me to the relevant articles within the relevant laws?

Lastly, for the avoidance of doubt, I used the term "confession" in the dictionary sense of the word, meaning an admission of guilt. I am not referring to an "official confession" made to a judicial authority. I am talking about emails between private individuals where one party admits to having committed crimes.

Please confirm that this is indeed the context in which you framed your answer and that you were not thinking about "official" confessions made to a judicial authority.

Thank you

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