'Reparations to victims - ICC proceedings' in document 'Germany: Cooperation with ICC'

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RELEVANT SECTIONS OF THE IMPLEMENTING LEGISLATION

Part 4 Mutual Assistance through the Execution of Decisions and Orders of the Court

§ 40 Principle

Orders of forfeiture pursuant to Article 77 para. 2(b) of the Rome Statute as well as decisions under Article 75 of the Rome Statute shall also be enforced.

Part 4 Mutual Assistance through the Execution of Decisions and Orders of the Court

§ 43 Enforcement of Monetary Fines
(relating to Article 77 para. 2(a), Article 109 para. 1 of the Rome Statute)

(1) Monetary fines shall be enforced when:
1. requested by the Court upon presentation of a complete final and enforceable
court ruling on guilt and punishment, and
2. the request states up to which amount the monetary fine is to be enforced domestically insofar as the Court has requested enforcement of monetary fines from more than one state.
To the extent that the monetary fine to be enforced is stated in a currency other than Euro, the exchange rate officially set on the day of receipt of the request shall be used for the conversion.

(2) The Court-Fee Collection Ordinance (Justizbeitreibungsordnung) applies to the enforcement of monetary fines as far as this law does not otherwise provide.

(3) The fine is due upon receipt of the request. For interpretation of the rulings on guilt or sentencing, the calculation of the imposed penalty, objections to the permissibility of the enforcement of the penalty, or when under German law the prerequisites of § 459a of the Criminal Procedure Code would be met, a decision of the Court shall be obtained. The progress of the enforcement shall not be inhibited hereby; the office responsible pursuant to § 46 para. 2 may, however, postpone or suspend the enforcement. A continuation of enforcement at a later point in time shall be ensured by appropriate measures; to this end, a search of the convicted person, his living quarters and possessions, as well as the confiscation of objects, is allowed.

(4) § 459b and 459c para. 2 and 3 of the Criminal Procedure Code apply mutatis mutandis. The result of the enforcement shall be reported to the Court and the fine collected shall be transferred to it.

(5) To the extent the Court, because of the uncollectability of a monetary fine, lengthens the imposed detention based upon a criminal act in Article 5 of the Rome Statute or, because of the uncollectability of an imposed monetary fine based upon a criminal act as set forth in Article 70 para. 1 of the Rome Statute, imposes a prison sentence, §§ 41 and 42 apply to the enforcement of the prison sentence.

Part 4 Mutual Assistance through the Execution of Decisions and Orders of the Court

§ 45 Enforcement of Restitution Orders
(relating to Article 75 para. 2, Article 109 of the Rome Statute)

Restitution Orders that require the payment of a sum of money shall be enforced when:
1. requested by the Court upon presentation of a complete final and enforceable court ruling on guilt and punishment, as well as an order pursuant to Article 75 of the Rome Statute, and
2. the request states up to what amount the Restitution Order is to be enforced domestically to the extent the Court has requested enforcement by more than one state.
In addition, the enforcement shall occur in accordance with § 43.

RELEVANT ROME STATUTE PROVISIONS

Article 75
Reparations to victims
1. The Court shall establish principles relating to reparations to, or in respect of, victims, including restitution, compensation and rehabilitation. On this basis, in its decision the Court may, either upon request or on its own motion in exceptional circumstances, determine the scope and extent of any damage, loss and injury to, or in respect of, victims and will state the principles on which it is acting.
2. The Court may make an order directly against a convicted person specifying appropriate reparations to, or in respect of, victims, including restitution, compensation and rehabilitation. Where appropriate, the Court may order that the award for reparations be made through the Trust Fund provided for in article 79.
3. Before making an order under this article, the Court may invite and shall take account of representations from or on behalf of the convicted person, victims, other interested persons or interested States.
4. In exercising its power under this article, the Court may, after a person is convicted of a crime within the jurisdiction of the Court, determine whether, in order to give effect to an order which it may make under this article, it is necessary to seek measures under article 93, paragraph 1.
5. A State Party shall give effect to a decision under this article as if the provisions of article 109 were applicable to this article.
6. Nothing in this article shall be interpreted as prejudicing the rights of victims under national or international law.

Article 109
Enforcement of fines and forfeiture measures
1. States Parties shall give effect to fines or forfeitures ordered by the Court under Part 7, without prejudice to the rights of bona fide third parties, and in accordance with the procedure of their national law.
2. If a State Party is unable to give effect to an order for forfeiture, it shall take measures to recover the value of the proceeds, property or assets ordered by the Court to be forfeited, without prejudice to the rights of bona fide third parties.
3. Property, or the proceeds of the sale of real property or, where appropriate, the sale of other property, which is obtained by a State Party as a result of its enforcement of a judgement of the Court shall be transferred to the Court.

ANALYSIS

This provision follows the ICC Statute.

 

The Genman Law on Cooperation with the ICC provides for the enforcement of reparation orders made by the Court.