'Offences against administration of justice' in document 'Malta: ICC Act 2003'

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RELEVANT SECTIONS OF THE IMPLEMENTING LEGISLATION

PART 3
OFFENCES IN RELATION TO THE ICC
7. (1) It shall be an offence for any person to intentionally commit any of the acts mentioned in Article 70.1 of the ICC Treaty (offences against the administration of justice in relation to the ICC), hereinafter in this Part referred to as “the relevant article”.
(2) In interpreting and applying the provisions of the relevant article the court shall take into account any relevant judgment or decision of the ICC and may also take into account any other relevant international jurisprudence.
(3) Without prejudice to the provisions of article 5 of the Criminal Code, a criminal action may also be prosecuted in Malta against any citizen of Malta or permanent resident in Malta who shall have become guilty of an offence mentioned in subarticle (1) although the offence may have been committed outside Malta.
(4) Proceedings for an offence under this article shall not be instituted except by or with the consent of the Attorney General.
(5) The relevant provisions of the relevant article are set out in the Second Schedule.
(6) A person who is found guilty of an offence under subarticle (1) shall be liable to punishment as follows -
(a) where the offence consists of the act mentioned in paragraph (a) of the relevant article, to the punishment laid down in articles 104, 105, 107 of the Criminal Code for the corresponding circumstances of the case;
(b) where the offence consists of the act mentioned in paragraph (b) of the relevant article, to the punishment laid down in article 103 of the Criminal Code;
(c) where the offence consists of any of the acts
mentioned in paragraph © of the relevant article, to the punishment laid down in articles 102, 110, or 111 of the Criminal Code for the corresponding circumstances of the case;
(d) where the offence consists of any of the acts mentioned in paragraph (d) of the relevant article -
(i) to the punishment of imprisonment from two to five years if the official of the Court properly performs his or her duties; or
(ii) to the said punishment increased by two or three degrees where the official of the Court fails to perform, or improperly performs, his or her duties; or
(iii) to any punishment higher than imprisonment for a term of five years to which a person accused of an ICC crime may have been sentenced where the official of the Court fails to perform, or improperly performs, his or her duties in or in connection with the trial of that person;
(e) where the offence consists of the act mentioned in paragraph (e) of the relevant article, to the punishment laid down in article 95(1) of the Criminal Code as the circumstances of the case may be;
(f) where the offence consists of any of the acts mentioned in paragraph (f) of the relevant article, the offender may be dealt with as for the corresponding
offence under articles 115 and 121(4)(d) of the Criminal Code and shall be liable to punishment accordingly.

8.(1) References in this Part to a person committing any of the acts mentioned in the relevant article, shall be construed in accordance with this article.
(2) Unless otherwise provided by article 7 or by the relevant article, a person is regarded as committing an act referred to in subarticle (1) only if the material elements are committed with intent and knowledge.
(3) For this purpose -
(a) a person has intent -
(i) in relation to conduct, where he means to engage in the conduct, and
(ii) in relation to a consequence, where he means to cause the consequence or is aware that it will occur in the ordinary course of events, and
(b) “knowledge” means awareness that a circumstance exists or a consequence will occur in the ordinary course of events.
(4) In interpreting and applying the provisions of this article (which corresponds to article 30 of the ICC Treaty) the court shall take into account any relevant judgment or decision of the ICC and may also take into account any other relevant international jurisprudence

SECOND SCHEDULE
(Article 16)
Articles of the ICC Treaty referred to in the Act
Article 70
Offences against the administration of justice
1. The Court shall have jurisdiction over the following offences against its administration of justice when committed intentionally -
(a) Giving false testimony when under an obligation pursuant to Article 69, paragraph 1, to tell the truth;
(b) Presenting evidence that the party knows is false or forged;
(c) Corruptly influencing a witness, obstructing or interfering with the attendance or testimony of a witness, retaliating against a witness for giving testimony or destroying, tampering with or interfering with the collection of evidence;
(d) Impeding, intimidating or corruptly influencing an official of the Court for the purpose of forcing or persuading the official not to perform, or to perform improperly, his or her duties;
(e) Retaliating against an official of the Court on account of duties performed by that or another official;
(f) Soliciting or accepting a bribe as an official of the Court in connection with his or her official duties. .......... omissis ............
4. (a) Each State Party shall extend its criminal laws penalizing offences against the integrity of its own investigative or judicial process to offences against the administration of justice referred to in this article, committed on its territory, or by one of its nationals;
.......... omissis .........
NOTE -
Article 69.1, referred to in Article 70.1(a), provides as follows -
“1 Before testifying, each witness shall, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure and Evidence, give an undertaking as to the truthfulness of the evidence to be given by that witness.”.

RELEVANT ROME STATUTE PROVISIONS

Article 70
Offences against the administration of justice
1. The Court shall have jurisdiction over the following offences against its administration of justice when committed intentionally:
(a) Giving false testimony when under an obligation pursuant to article 69, paragraph 1, to tell the truth;
(b) Presenting evidence that the party knows is false or forged;
(c) Corruptly influencing a witness, obstructing or interfering with the attendance or testimony of a witness, retaliating against a witness for giving testimony or destroying, tampering with or interfering with the collection of evidence;
(d) Impeding, intimidating or corruptly influencing an official of the Court for the purpose of forcing or persuading the official not to perform, or to perform improperly, his or her duties;
(e) Retaliating against an official of the Court on account of duties performed by that or another official;
(f) Soliciting or accepting a bribe as an official of the Court in connection with his or her official duties.