LAW on the Implementation of the Statute of the International Criminal Court and the Prosecution of Crimes against International Law of War and Humanitarian Law

III. NOTIFICATION T O THE PROSECUTOR AND ACTION T O BE TAKEN UPON THE PROSECUTOR'S NOTIFICATION

Article 19

(4) If the Pre-Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court, in spite of the readiness to conduct criminal proceedings in the Republic of Croatia, authorises the Prosecutor to commence investigation, the Republic of Croatia may lodge a complaint in accordance with the Statute and the Rules of Procedure and Evidence.

LAW on the Implementation of the Statute of the International Criminal Court and the Prosecution of Crimes against International Law of War and Humanitarian Law

III. NOTIFICATION T O THE PROSECUTOR AND ACTION T O BE TAKEN UPON THE PROSECUTOR'S NOTIFICATION

Article 19

(3) If the criminal prosecution has been commenced in the Republic of Croatia, the Government of the Republic of Croatia may request the International Criminal Court to have the case concerned referred to it.

LAW on the Implementation of the Statute of the International Criminal Court and the Prosecution of Crimes against International Law of War and Humanitarian Law

IV. LEGAL CONSEQUENCES OF PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT

Article 21

(1) No criminal proceedings may be conducted against the same indicted person for the same crime simultaneously in the Republic of Croatia and before the International Criminal Court.

(2) When proceedings against the person indicted are under way before a court in Croatia, and the International Criminal Court begins criminal proceedings against the same person for the same crime, the proceedings before the court in Croatia will be suspended upon the surrender of the person indicted to the International Criminal Court or when this person otherwise appears before the ICC.

(3) When the International Criminal Tribunal begins with the proceedings, no proceedings shall be instituted in the Republic of Croatia against the same indicted person for the same crime.

(4) If the adjudication of a court in the Republic of Croatia has become final, it shall not be enforced, and if the enforcement is under way, it shall be suspended upon the surrender of the person indicted to the International Criminal Court.

(5) During the suspension of the proceedings before a court in the Republic of Croatia or the suspension of the enforcement no statute of limitations or deadlines for carrying out particular process activities shall apply.

LAW on the Implementation of the Statute of the International Criminal Court and the Prosecution of Crimes against International Law of War and Humanitarian Law

V COOPERATION WITH INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT

Article 25

(1) The Government of the Republic of Croatia may postpone the fulfilment of the cooperation request on account of the criminal proceedings conducted in the Republic of Croatia, or on account of the objection raised concerning the permissibility of instituting or conducting the proceedings before the International Criminal Court (Articles 94 and 95 of the Statute).

(2) If the cooperation request needs to be fulfilled by a court in Croatia, its fulfilment shall be postponed by the court at the request of the Attorney General of the Republic of Croatia.

Article 19
Challenges to the jurisdiction of the Court or the admissibility of a case
1. The Court shall satisfy itself that it has jurisdiction in any case brought before it. The Court may, on its own motion, determine the admissibility of a case in accordance with article 17.
2. Challenges to the admissibility of a case on the grounds referred to in article 17 or challenges to the jurisdiction of the Court may be made by:
(a) An accused or a person for whom a warrant of arrest or a summons to appear has been issued under article 58;
(b) A State which has jurisdiction over a case, on the ground that it is investigating or prosecuting the case or has investigated or prosecuted; or
(c) A State from which acceptance of jurisdiction is required under article 12.
3. The Prosecutor may seek a ruling from the Court regarding a question of jurisdiction or admissibility. In proceedings with respect to jurisdiction or admissibility, those who have referred the situation under article 13, as well as victims, may also submit observations to the Court.
4. The admissibility of a case or the jurisdiction of the Court may be challenged only once by any person or State referred to in paragraph 2. The challenge shall take place prior to or at the commencement of the trial. In exceptional circumstances, the Court may grant leave for a challenge to be brought more than once or at a time later than the commencement of the trial. Challenges to the admissibility of a case, at the commencement of a trial, or subsequently with the leave of the Court, may be based only on article 17, paragraph 1 (c).
5. A State referred to in paragraph 2 (b) and (c) shall make a challenge at the earliest opportunity.
6. Prior to the confirmation of the charges, challenges to the admissibility of a case or challenges to the jurisdiction of the Court shall be referred to the Pre-Trial Chamber. After confirmation of the charges, they shall be referred to the Trial Chamber. Decisions with respect to jurisdiction or admissibility may be appealed to the Appeals Chamber in accordance with article 82.
7. If a challenge is made by a State referred to in paragraph 2 (b) or (c), the Prosecutor shall suspend the investigation until such time as the Court makes a determination in accordance with article 17.
8. Pending a ruling by the Court, the Prosecutor may seek authority from the Court:
(a) To pursue necessary investigative steps of the kind referred to in article 18, paragraph 6;
(b) To take a statement or testimony from a witness or complete the collection and examination of evidence which had begun prior to the making of the challenge; and
(c) In cooperation with the relevant States, to prevent the absconding of persons in respect of whom the Prosecutor has already requested a warrant of arrest under article 58.
9. The making of a challenge shall not affect the validity of any act performed by the Prosecutor or any order or warrant issued by the Court prior to the making of the challenge.
10. If the Court has decided that a case is inadmissible under article 17, the Prosecutor may submit a request for a review of the decision when he or she is fully satisfied that new facts have arisen which negate the basis on which the case had previously been found inadmissible under article 17.
11. If the Prosecutor, having regard to the matters referred to in article 17, defers an investigation, the Prosecutor may request that the relevant State make available to the Prosecutor information on the proceedings. That information shall, at the request of the State concerned, be confidential. If the Prosecutor thereafter decides to proceed with an investigation, he or she shall notify the State to which deferral of the proceedings has taken place.