519

When contempt is committed in the immediate presence and view of the court or of the Industrial Commission of Puerto Rico, the punishment therefor may be imposed immediately by the judge of the court, or the presiding judge thereof, or by the Industrial Commission of Puerto Rico or the presiding Commissioner thereof. When such a person is charged with contempt committed out of the presence of the court or of the Industrial Commission, no conviction can be had thereon unless the person so charged shall have been given an opportunity to appear and defend himself against the charge; and whenever a person is fined or committed to jail for a contempt of court or of the Industrial Commission, an order or warrant for such fine or imprisonment must be signed by the judge or commissioner delivering such sentence, setting forth the act or acts constituting such contempt, with the time and place of the commission thereof, and the circumstances, and specifying the sentence of the court; otherwise such sentence will be wholly invalid and inoperative. History —Mar. 1, 1902, p. 83, § 3; Mar. 8, 1906, p. 41, § 2; May 12, 1937, No. 102, p. 241, eff. 90 days after May 12, 1937.