21. When the investigation commissioner is of the opinion that a person whose testimony he deems necessary will fail or refuse to be present at the inquiry, he may order such person arrested, with or without a warrant, and brought before him within twenty-four hours after his arrest or, if that is impossible, within the shortest possible delay; the investigation commissioner may then, in order to ensure his presence at the inquiry, require bail of such person or direct that such person be detained in a house of detention.
No person shall be so detained for more than twenty-four hours without being brought again before the investigation commissioner; the investigation commissioner’s decision to extend the detention beyond twenty-four hours may be revised by a judge of the Superior Court for the district in which the investigation commissioner rendered his decision.
If the investigation commissioner requires the detention of several persons in the same house of detention, he may order that such persons be detained separately from one another, so that they cannot communicate with each other.
Any person arrested under this section may also be brought before a justice of the peace. In such a case a justice of the peace also possesses the powers conferred on an investigation commissioner under this section, subject to the same conditions.
1968, c. 16, s. 21; 1969, c. 21, s. 35; 1983, c. 41, s. 197.