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(1) Where there exist circumstances indicating that the lives and limb, health, liberty orproperty to a substantial degree of witnesses or persons close to them would bethreatened by their testimony in public, especially where criminal offence of organisedcrime, corruption or other extremely serious criminal offences are concerned, the courtmay issue a ruling authorising special protective measures for the witness (protectedwitness).(2) Special protective measures for witnesses include their questioning in a mannerensuring that their identities are not revealed, and physical security measures during theproceedings.Article 109b(1) Rulings on special witness protection may be issued by the court ex officio, or at therequest of the parties, or the witness himself.(2) The ruling referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall contain the following: data onthe criminal offence about which the witness is being examined, the witness’s personaldata, the facts and evidence indicating that in the event of testifying in public there is aserious and real danger for the lives, limb, health, liberty or property of the witness andpersons close to the witness, and a description of the circumstances to which thetestimony relates.(3) Requests shall be filed in sealed covers carrying the inscription "witness protection –official secret" and submitted during the investigation stage to the investigating judge,and after the indictment assumes legal force, to the president of the chamber.(4) Where a witness during questioning by the investigating judge declines to provideinformation about himself, answers to certain questions, or testimony in its entirety,pointing to the existence of the circumstances referred to in 109a paragraph 1 of thisCode, it shall be deemed that he has submitted a request for special protectivemeasures, following which the investigating judge, if he finds the danger to be wellfounded,shall call him to act within a period of three days in accordance with theprovisions of paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Article. Where the investigating judge finds thatwithholding of data, responses to questions or testimony is obviously unjustified, or thewitness fails to act in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Articlewithin the prescribed time limit, the provisions of Article 108 paragraph 2 of this Codeshall be applied.Article 109v(1) Rulings on special witness protection measures are rendered during the investigationstage by the investigating judge, and after the indictment takes legal effect the trialchamber, if in session, or the chamber referred to in Article 24 paragraph 6 of this Codeif the trial chamber is not in session. In ruling on special witness protection measures,the trial chamber shall exclude the public (Article 292 and Article 293 paragraph 1),without the exceptions prescribed in Article 293 paragraph 2 of this Code.(2) Where the investigating judge is not satisfied with the request referred to in Article109b of this Code, the investigating judge shall ask the chamber (Article 24 paragraph 6)