Oath in Witness Box

Is there anyone licensed to lie？

Probably no, but possibly yes.

So familiar to hear ：

“... the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth...” 

Equally familiar to hear that the judge finds the defendant guilty of the offence being charged.

In mitigation, quite often to have the defendant saying, “ I committed the crime and lied to the court out of my foolish greediness. I beg for the court's mercy for a non-custodial sentence.”

It appears that the defendant is licensed to lie. The system allows this happen. While the judge hands down the sentence to punish the defendant for the offence charged, the fact that the defendant tells lie under oath is not dealt with.