Section 8

If any party to any judicial proceeding of a civil nature offers to be bound by any such oath or solemn affirmation as is mentioned in section 7 if the oath or affirmation is made by the other party to or by any witness in the proceeding, or if in any judicial proceeding of a criminal nature the accused person desires that any witness for the prosecution shall make any such oath or affirmation, the court may, if it thinks fit, ask that party or witness or cause him to be asked whether or not he will make the oath or affirmation, but so that no party or witness shall be compelled to attend personally in court solely for the purpose of answering such question.

If that party or witness agrees to make such oath or affirmation the court may administer it or, if more convenient, may authorise any person to administer it and to take the evidence of the person to be sworn or affirmed and return it to the court.

The evidence so given shall, as against the person who offered to be bound as aforesaid, be conclusive proof of the matter stated.

If the party or witness refuses to make such oath or solemn affirmation he shall not be compelled to make it, but the court shall record as part of the proceedings the nature of the oath or affirmation proposed, and the facts that he was asked whether he would make it and that he refused it, together with any reason which he may assign for his refusal.