RIGHTS OF THE INVESTIGATED

Any person who is being investigated for the commission of a criminal act in a criminal proceeding has the following rights provided for in art. 118 of the LECrim, which are as follows:

1. The right to be informed of the facts attributed to him/her and of all relevant changes that occur during the course of the investigation.
2. The right to examine the proceedings in due time to safeguard the right of defense and, in any case, before a statement is taken.
3. The right to act in criminal proceedings to exercise their right of defense.
4. Right to freely appoint counsel. The right of defense includes the right to the legal assistance of a freely appointed lawyer or, failing that, a court-appointed lawyer. The person under investigation must be defended by a lawyer throughout the criminal proceedings and has the right to communicate and meet with him/her in confidence, since all communications between the two are confidential. In addition, the lawyer will be present at all his statements and at the rest of the investigative proceedings that are carried out.
5. The right to request free legal assistance, and must be informed of the procedure for doing so and the conditions for obtaining it.
6. Right to free translation and interpretation.
7. The right to remain silent and not to testify if he/she does not wish to do so, and not to answer some of the questions put to him/her. Unlike witnesses, who are obliged to tell the truth in their testimony, the person under investigation may decide whether or not to testify and, if so, has the right to answer only those questions he/she wishes (e.g., he/she may answer only those questions put to him/her by his/her lawyer).
8. Right not to testify against oneself and not to confess guilt.