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Arguido

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Arguido(pronounced[ɐɾˈɣwiðu];if male) orarguida(pronounced[ɐɾˈɣwiðɐ];if female), normally translated "namedsuspect"or" formal suspect ",[1]is a status inPortuguese typelegal systems,including those ofPortugal,Macau,Angola[2]andMozambique.[3] It is given to a person whom the authorities suspect may have committed an offence.[1] This designation does not exist in certain other jurisdictions.[4] In a criminal investigation a person has to be declared anarguidoprior to being arrested.[5]Portuguese law makes a distinction betweenarguidoand suspect.[6]

The rights of anarguido

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If a person becomes anarguido,they automatically gain certain rights that a witness or suspect would not have.[7]Anarguidohas the right to be accompanied by a lawyer when questioned.[5]The investigating police may ask thearguidomore direct accusatory questions (the answers to which would not be admissible in court if possibly self-incriminatory and asked of a non-arguido) but thearguidomust be presented with whatever evidence is held against them,[7]and unlike a witness has theright to remain silent,[8]not to answer any question that may incriminate the person, and does not face legal action for lying.[9]

Witnessesin criminal investigations are legally bound to co-operate with the police and do not have the right to silence and face legal actions if they lie.[7][9]Because of the legal advantages, some individuals apply forarguidostatus to be given to themselves, e.g. when it would appear that the police suspect them but are trying to use their witness status to extract as much information as possible.[7]

A person who hasarguidostatus has not been formally accused of a crime, arrested or charged,[10] and not allarguidosare subsequently charged.[1] The police may ask a court to restrict anarguido's movement and oblige them to not leave the country.[1] Arguidoscannot change their place of residence without permission from a court.[10] There is no time limit on the status.[11]

Comparison with common-law administrations

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The status is very similar to that of being "questioned under caution" under thePolice and Criminal Evidence Actin the United Kingdom or being questioned after being read one's "Miranda Rights"in the United States, specifically the right to legal representation, the liberty to refuse to answer questions, and the admissibility in court of statements taken whilst in those statuses.[12]

Etymology

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Arguidoderives from the Latinarguireorarguere.[13][14]The English wordsargueandargumenthave the same etymology.[15][16]

References

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  1. ^abcdSturcke, James (2007-09-07)."What is an arguido?".London: The Guardian.Archivedfrom the original on 10 September 2007.Retrieved2007-09-07.
  2. ^"Rafael Marques de Morais Constituído Arguido em Angola".Maka Angola.Retrieved2015-01-09.
  3. ^"Mari Alkatiri foi constituído arguido".Moçambique para todos. 2006-07-11.Archivedfrom the original on 27 September 2007.Retrieved2007-09-08.
  4. ^e.g. "...there is no direct equivalent in UK law...""What is an 'arguido'?".Channel 4 News.2007-09-07.Archivedfrom the original on 11 September 2007.Retrieved2007-09-08.
  5. ^abKeeley, Graham (2007-09-07)."Q&A: what is an arguido, or suspect, in Portugal?".The Times.London.Retrieved2007-09-08.
  6. ^"Janus 2004 | As garantias dos arguidos no processo penal português".Janusonline.pt. Archived fromthe originalon 2010-06-24.Retrieved2010-04-25.
  7. ^abcd"Q&A: Suspects and Portuguese law".BBC News Online.2007-09-07.Archivedfrom the original on 10 September 2007.Retrieved2007-09-08.
  8. ^"Why is Kate McCann now a 'suspect'?".Metro.2007-09-07.Archivedfrom the original on 29 September 2007.Retrieved2007-09-07.
  9. ^ab"Arguidos E Regresso".Dn.sapo.pt. Archived fromthe originalon 2008-12-01.Retrieved2010-04-25.
  10. ^ab"'Formal Suspect' - The Portuguese Law ".Sky News.2007-05-15.Retrieved2007-09-08.
  11. ^"Portuguese law: naming an 'arguida'".London: The Daily Telegraph. 2007-09-08.Retrieved2007-09-08.[dead link]
  12. ^Berlins, Marcel (2007-09-10)."Media have rushed to judge Portuguese police".The Guardian.London.
  13. ^"Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa On-line Priberam".Priberam.pt.Archivedfrom the original on 24 April 2010.Retrieved25 April2010.
  14. ^"Latin Dictionary and Grammar Aid".Archives.nd.edu.Retrieved25 September2016.
  15. ^"Online Etymology Dictionary".Etymonline.com.Retrieved25 April2010.
  16. ^"Argument | Definition of Argument by Merriam-Webster".M-W.com. 25 April 2007.Retrieved2 May2017.
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