past / past perfect

[Hanka]

Hello,

could you please help me with the correct tense again:

A witness shall not be examined if his testimony would constitute a breach of the confidentiality obligation imposed or recognized by the state, except when he is relieved of this obligation by a competent body or the person in whose interest he assumed/had assumed such obligation.

Thank you very much.

Hanka

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by Hanka

Hello,

could you please help me with the correct tense again:

A witness shall not be examined if his testimony would constitute a breach of the confidentiality obligation imposed or recognized by the state, except when he is relieved of this obligation by a competent body or the person in whose interest he assumed/had assumed such obligation.

Thank you very much.

Hanka

I would use the past perfect there. That makes it very clear that the witness assumed that obligation before any trial or pretrial activities began.