Sworn statements no longer have to be made at court

In a bid to decongest courts, authorities have allowed sworn statements to be given before lawyers or in citizen service centres without the need of going to court, the justice ministry said on Monday.

The practice was introduced last Friday and is expected to provide some relief to courthouses, which people had to visit to make sworn statements, mainly for out-of-court business.

The development was just another change brought about by the Covid pandemic and the need for business and other activities to continue amid restrictions or lockdowns.