noun
invited witness; unsworn witness
In Japanese legal proceedings, a person who appears before a committee or court to provide testimony but is not under oath. Distinct from a sworn witness (証人).
国会の委員会に参考人として呼ばれた。
I was summoned to the Diet committee as an unsworn witness.
noun
person of interest; voluntary interviewee
Used in criminal investigations for someone who is questioned voluntarily, not as a suspect or under arrest. Often appears in news reports.
警察は事件の参考人として彼から話を聞いた。
The police interviewed him as a person of interest in the case.
noun
expert advisor; consultative expert
A specialist invited to give opinions or advice in legislative or administrative settings, not as a formal witness.
参考人として専門家が意見を述べた。
The expert gave an opinion as a consultative advisor.
容疑者 is a suspect formally accused or under investigation, whereas 参考人 is a person of interest questioned voluntarily.
Compound of 参考 (reference, consultation) and 人 (person). The term is a modern legal coinage.