'National procedures for execution of cooperation request' in document 'Mauritius - ICC Act 2011'

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RELEVANT SECTIONS OF THE IMPLEMENTING LEGISLATION

PART IV – ARREST AND SURRENDER OF PERSONS

11. Endorsement of warrant of arrest

(1) Any request from the International Criminal Court for the arrest or provisional arrest and surrender of a person for whom a warrant of arrest has been issued by the International Criminal Court shall be directed to the Attorney-General and accompanied by –

(a) sufficient information, describing the person sought, to identify the person;
(b) information as to that person’s probable location ;
(c) a copy of the warrant of arrest issued by the International Criminal Court; and
(d) such other documents as may be necessary to satisfy a Judge that there is sufficient ground for the surrender of that person to the International Criminal Court .
(2) The Attorney-General shall, on receipt of that request, forward it and the accompanying documents to a Judge, who shall endorse the warrant of arrest for execution in Mauritius

PART IV – ARREST AND SURRENDER OF PERSONS

12. Provisional warrant

(1) Where the Attorney-General receives a request in relation to an urgent case from the International Criminal Court for the provisional arrest of a person who is suspected or accused of having committed an offence contemplated in the Statute, or who has been convicted by the International Criminal Court of such an offence, the Attorney-General shall apply for a warrant of arrest for that person.

(2) On an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions Attorney-General stating under oath that he has reason to believe that –
(a) the request of the International Criminal Court has been made on grounds of urgency for the arrest of a person who is suspected or accused of having committed an offence contemplated in the Statute or who has been convicted by the International Criminal Court;
(b) a warrant of arrest has been issued, or a judgment of conviction has been delivered, against the person in question;
(c) a formal request for the surrender of the person to the International Criminal Court will be made subsequently
(d) the person concerned is in, or on his way to, Mauritius; and
(e) the purpose of the arrest is –
(i) to bring the person concerned before the International Criminal Court to stand trial; or
(ii) to take him to a place where he is to undergo imprisonment under a sentence of the International Criminal Court,
as the case may be,
a Magistrate may issue a warrant for the arrest of that person and notify the Attorney- General that a warrant has been issued.

(3) The warrant shall contain –
(a) sufficient information, describing the person sought, to identify the person, and information as to that person’s probable location;
(b) a concise statement of the offence for which the person’s arrest is sought and of the facts which are alleged to constitute that offence, including, where possible, the date and location of the offence;
(c) a statement of the existence of a warrant of arrest or a judgment of conviction against the person sought; and
(d) a statement that a request for surrender of the person sought will follow

PART IV – ARREST AND SURRENDER OF PERSONS

13. Postponement of execution of request

(1) The Attorney-General shall not postpone the execution of a request for arrest and surrender at any time before the surrender of the person, unless the request would interfere with an investigation or prosecution in Mauritius involving a different offence from that for which surrender is requested.

(2) The Attorney-General shall consult with the International Criminal Court and agree on a period of time for postponement of the execution of the request in accordance with Article 94 of the Statute, and the Attorney-General shall proceed with the execution of the request after the lapse of that period, unless otherwise agreed with the International Criminal Court.

(3) Where the Attorney-General decides to postpone the execution of a request for arrest and surrender in accordance with this section after he has forwarded a request pursuant to section 11 or 12, he shall –
(a) notify the Magistrate of the postponement and the Magistrate shall adjourn any pending proceedings until further notice from the Attorney-General; and
(b) notify the Magistrate at the relevant time whether the execution of the request is to proceed or not, and the Magistrate shall proceed accordingly with the execution of the request or the discharge of the person.

(4) A decision by the Attorney-General to postpone the execution of a request shall not affect the validity of any act that has been done or any warrant or order made under this Part prior to the decision, and any such warrant or order shall remain in force unless cancelled by the International Criminal Court

PART V - CO-OPERATION AND JUDICIAL ASSISTANCE

22. Request for assistance in obtaining evidence

(1) A request by the International Criminal Court for assistance in obtaining evidence in Mauritius for use in the International Criminal Court shall be submitted in writing to the Attorney-General.

(2) On receipt of such request, the Attorney-General shall satisfy himself that –
(a) proceedings have been instituted in the International Criminal Court; or
(b) there are reasonable grounds for believing that an international crime within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court has been committed; or
(c) an investigation in respect of the alleged crime is being conducted by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court .

(3) For the purposes of subsection (2), the Attorney-General may rely on a certificate issued by a Judge of the International Criminal Court or the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, confirming one or more of the requirements referred to in subsection (2).

(4) Where the Attorney-General is satisfied that one or more of the requirements referred to in subsection (2) have been complied with, he shall submit the request referred to in subsection (1) to the Magistrate within whose area of jurisdiction the witness resides or is believed to be present, as well as to the Director of Public Prosecutions

PART V - CO-OPERATION AND JUDICIAL ASSISTANCE

28. Securing attendance of witnesses

(1) Every summons issued by a Judge or the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court for the attendance of a person in any proceedings before the International Criminal Court shall be transmitted to the Attorney-General.
(2) On receipt of a summons, the Attorney-General shall immediately transmit it to the Magistrate within whose area of jurisdiction the person resides or is present.
(3) The Magistrate shall, if satisfied that the summons was issued by the International Criminal Court, endorse it for service upon such person, and the endorsed summons may be served as if it were a summons issued by the Magistrate.
(4) A return of service indicating that the summons was properly served on the person concerned, together with a certificate by the Magistrate to the effect that such person failed to appear at the time and place specified in the summons, shall be prima facie proof that the said person failed to appear before the International Criminal Court.

PART V - CO-OPERATION AND JUDICIAL ASSISTANCE

29. Transfer of prisoner to give evidence or to assist in investigation

(1) Where the Attorney-General receives a request from the International Criminal Court or from its Prosecutor for the transfer of a prisoner in Mauritius into the custody of the International Criminal Court, for the purpose of giving evidence or assisting in an investigation, the Attorney-General shall transmit the request to the Commissioner of Prisons.
(2) Where the prisoner consents to the transfer, the Commissioner of Prisons may issue a warrant for the transfer of the prisoner into the custody of the International Criminal Court, in accordance with the arrangements made with the Registrar or the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.
(3) Any period of imprisonment served in the custody of the International Criminal Court by a prisoner transferred under this section shall be regarded as a period of imprisonment served in Mauritius for the purposes of calculating the remaining term of imprisonment of that person.
(4) The Commissioner of Prisons shall, where it appears that the term of imprisonment of the transferred prisoner will expire while that prisoner is still in the custody of the International Criminal Court, inform the Registrar of the Court in writing of the date on which that term of imprisonment will expire.

PART VI – OTHER FORMS OF ASSISTANCE

32. Request for enforcement of fine or forfeiture order

(1) Where the Attorney-General receives a request from the International Criminal Court for the enforcement of a fine or any order for forfeiture in Mauritius, he shall lodge with the Master and Registrar or present a certified copy of the order if where he is satisfied that the order is not subject to any review or appeal and that the request is supported by –
(a) a concise statement of the purpose of the request, and the assistance sought, including the legal basis and the ground for the request;
(b) as much information as possible about the location or identification of any person or place that shall be found in order for the assistance sought to be provided;
(c) a concise statement of the essential facts underlying the request;
(d) the reasons for and details of any procedure or requirement to be followed;
(e) such information as may be required by the law of Mauritius in order to execute the request; and
(f) any other information that is available and may be relevant in the
circumstances.

(2) The Master and Registrar with whom a certified copy of a request order is lodged under subsection (1) shall register such order in respect of the persons or items specified therein

PART VI - OTHER FORMS OF ASSISTANCE

34. Registration of sentence or compensatory order

(1) Where the Attorney-General receives a request from the International Criminal Court for assistance in Mauritius to recover a fine to which a person has been sentenced in criminal proceedings in the International Criminal Court, or for the execution of an order for the payment of compensation for damages to any person made in such proceedings, he shall ascertain that –
(a) the sentence or order is final and not subject to review or appeal ;
(b) the person on whom the sentence was imposed or against whom the order was made, had the opportunity of defending himself ;
(c) the sentence or order cannot be satisfied in full except by confiscating and realising property; and
(d) the person concerned holds property in Mauritius.

(2) On being satisfied of the requirements of under subsection (1), the Attorney- General shall lodge with the Clerk of a Court in Mauritius having jurisdiction or the Master and Registrar, as the case may be, a certified copy of the document confirming the sentence or order.

(3) The Clerk of the Court or the Master and Registrar, as the case may be, shall forthwith give written notice of the registration of the sentence or order to the person on whom it was imposed or against whom it was made or who has effective control over the relevant property in Mauritius

PART VI - OTHER FORMS OF ASSISTANCE

38. Entry, search and seizure

(1) The International Criminal Court or the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court shall submit any request for assistance in the entering and searching of premises, the search of a person and the seizure of a book, document or object that has a bearing on a crime or an offence committed within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, to the Attorney-General in writing.

(2) The request shall contain sufficient information that there is reasonable ground for believing that the entry, search or seizure of the book, documents or object has a bearing on a crime or an offence committed within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court or that such entry, search or seizure of a book, document or object is necessary to determine if such a crime or such an offence has been so committed and that an investigation in that respect is being conducted by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court .

(3) On receipt of such a request, the Attorney-General shall forward it to the Commissioner of Police with a view to obtaining the necessary warrant required in the circumstances.

(4) A Magistrate may, if it appears to him from the information submitted that there is reasonable ground for believing that any book, document or object, which has a bearing on the investigation concerned, is in the possession or under the control of any person or on or in any premises within the Magistrate’s area of jurisdiction, issue the necessary warrant required in the circumstances.

(5) The warrant shall clearly specify the acts which may be performed under it by the police officer to whom it is issued.

(6) The warrant shall remain valid until –
(a) it is executed;
(b) it is cancelled by the person who issued it or by any person with similar authority;
(c) the expiry of 3 months from the date of its issue; or
(d) the purpose for which the warrant was issued no longer exists, whichever may occur first.

(7) A police officer shall, immediately before executing the warrant –
(a) identify himself to the person referred to in the warrant or the owner or person in control of the premises, if the person is present;
(b) hand over to the person a copy of the warrant or, if the person is not present, affix that copy to a prominent place on the premises; and
(c) supply the person at his request with particulars regarding his authority to execute the warrant.

(8) Every entry, search and seizure under this section shall be –
(a) conducted with strict regard to decency and order, including the protection of a person’s right to dignity, freedom, security and privacy; and
(b) executed by day unless the execution by night is justifiable and necessary.

(9) The seizure of a book, document or object under this section shall be effected by removing it from the premises concerned or, if that removal is not reasonably practicable, by sealing or otherwise safeguarding it on or in the premises.

(10) A police officer who may under this section enter and search any premises –
(a) shall, immediately before the entry, demand admission to the premises and make known the purpose of the entry and search, unless there is reasonable ground for believing that a book, document or object in respect of which the search is being conducted, may be destroyed, disposed of or tampered with if that admission is first demanded and that purpose is made known;
(b) may use such force as is reasonably necessary to overcome resistance to the entry or search or the seizure of a book, document or object under this section;
(c) may utilise or request the assistance of any person to identify any book, document or object which has a bearing on the alleged crime or offence or to conduct the entry or search or the seizure of any book, document or object under this section.

(11) A person from whose possession or control a book, document or object has been removed under this section may, at his own expense and under the supervision of a police officer, make a copy or take an extract from it.

(12) A police officer who removes a book, document or object from any premises under this section shall issue a receipt to the person who is the owner, or in possession or in control, of the premises or, if that person is not present, affix it to a prominent place on the premises.

(13) Where, during the conduct of a search or the carrying out of a seizure under this section, a person claims that a book, document or object found on or in the premises contains privileged information and refuses the examination or removal of the book, document or object, the police officer conducting the search or carrying out the seizure shall, if he is of the opinion that the book, document or object contains information which has a bearing on the alleged crime or offence, seize the book, document or object and submit it to the Magistrate having jurisdiction for safe custody until a Court has made a ruling on the question whether the information is privileged or not.

(14) Where the information is found not to be privileged, the book, document or object seized under this section shall be handed over to the International Criminal Court or the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.

(15) Where criminal proceedings, in respect of which a book, document or object has been seized under this section, are not instituted within a reasonable time after the seizure or it appears that the book, document or object is not required in criminal proceedings for the purposes of evidence or an order of the International Criminal Court, the Attorney-General shall request the International Criminal
Court or the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to return the book, document or object to the person from whom it was seized.