Jurisdiction Transfer Based on Refusal of Age Determination Scan

The appellate court reviewed a case where the accused, whose identity and precise age were uncertain, was charged with rape, and the lower court transferred the matter from juvenile to criminal jurisdiction based on the likelihood that the accused was over 18 at the time of the offense, a conclusion partially drawn from the accused's refusal to undergo a court-ordered CT scan for age determination. The appellate court held that in criminal proceedings, the presumption of innocence dictates that the accused bears no burden of proof and that their refusal to undergo a physical examination impacting fundamental rights, such as the one requested for age determination, cannot result in a reversal of the burden of proof or be interpreted to the accused's detriment, as this violates core criminal procedural principles where doubts must favor the accused.