IV. EXERCISING THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURT

Article 8
(3) If after receipt of notification that in compliance with the third paragraph of Article 20 of the Statute the Court has initiated a proceeding in the same matter and against the same persons as a domestic court, the Republic of Slovenia shall not challenge the admissibility of the matter or the jurisdiction of the Court in accordance with the provisions of Chapter V of this Act, and the domestic court shall issue a ruling by which it dismisses the charges and if a charge has not yet been brought, a ruling by which investigation is stayed.

V. CHALLENGING ADMISSIBILITY

Article 9
(1) The Republic of Slovenia may, for reasons referred to in Article 17 of the Statute, under the conditions referred to in Article 19 of the Statute, challenge the admissibility of a matter or the jurisdiction of the Court.
(2) The admissibility of a matter or the jurisdiction of the Court shall be challenged in cases in which the matter is being investigated or prosecuted by the competent bodies of the Republic of Slovenia, or when the charge of the Court refers to a person who has been acquitted or convicted with a final judgement in the Republic of Slovenia, or the criminal proceeding against him has been stayed by final decision or the charge against him has been dismissed with a final decision, and it is not a case in which trial by the Court would be allowed under the third paragraph of Article 20 of the Statute.
(3) The Supreme Court of the Republic of Slovenia, in a panel of five judges, shall have jurisdiction to challenge under the previous paragraph.
(4) With regard to arrest, detention and surrender of a person at the request of the Court following their decision on the admissibility of a matter, the Ministry, in co-operation with the competent national bodies, shall proceed in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the act regulating criminal proceedings.

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.