Criminal proceedings against person who commits acts of child abuse

(1) The Department, or the Police Department if it has been involved in the initial investigation of an alleged child abuse case, and if it has taken the child victim into protective custody and sent him for physical and psychological examination and/or medical treatment as provided in these Regulations, shall, upon obtaining the results of the physical and psychological examination and/or medical treatment of the child victim, prepare an investigation report covering the whole investigative process (from the initial report to the medical examination and treatment) and shall in the case of the Department, submit such report together with the results of the medical examination and treatment to the Belize Police Department for the institution of appropriate criminal proceedings against the person who allegedly committed the acts constituting child abuse in that case. (2) The medical certificate containing the results of the physical and psychological examination and (where applicable) medical treatment, shall be submitted by the Belize Police Department to the Court before which the alleged child abuser is being prosecuted. (3) The Court or the Belize Police Department shall report any child abuse case that enters the criminal justice system to the Ministry.