CHAPTER 11:24

MUTUAL ASSISTANCE IN CRIMINAL MATTERS ACT

FIRST SCHEDULE
REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE MADE BY COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES

1. A request for assistance under this Act made by a Commonwealth country shall—

(a) specify the assistance requested;
(b) be initiated by a judge, magistrate, the Director of Public Prosecutions or a law enforcement agency;
(c) identify the person, agency or authority that initiated the request;
(d) state any wishes of the country concerning the confidentiality of the request and the reasons for those wishes;
(e) state any period within which the country wishes the request to be complied with;
(f) if the request would involve travel by any person from Trinidad and Tobago to the country, give details of allowances and accommodation to which the person would be entitled; and
(g) contain such information as is available to the central authority for the country as will facilitate compliance with the request.

2. Where the assistance requested by a Commonwealth country is for the purposes of criminal proceedings, the request—

(a) shall be accompanied by the certificate, in relation to the criminal proceedings, that is referred to in paragraph (b) of the definition of “criminal proceedings” in section 2; and

(b) shall—
(i) give details of the proceedings and the offence concerned, including a summary of the known facts;
(ii) give the identity, if known, of the person to whom the proceedings relate or would relate; and
(iii) if the proceedings have been instituted, state the stage reached in the proceedings and, where applicable, identify the Court exercising jurisdiction.

3. Where a request such as is referred to in section 23 is made by a Commonwealth country, the request shall—

(a) give details of the procedure that the country wishes to be followed in giving effect to the request, including details of the manner and form in which any evidence or information is to be supplied to that country;

(b) where relevant, indicate whether any person, from whom evidence is to be taken, is to be examined—
(i) orally or in writing;
(ii) under oath;
(iii) in the presence of his legal representative; or
(iv) in the presence of the person to whom any relevant proceedings in that country relate;

(c) where evidence is to be taken from a person, specify the questions to be put to the person or the subject-matter about which the person is to be examined;

(d) where evidence is to be taken from a person, give details of any special requirements of the country as to the manner of taking evidence relevant to its admissibility in the country; and

(e) give details of any privileges or exemptions under the law of the country in relation to obtaining evidence or information by the means proposed in the request.

4. Where a request such as is referred to in section 24 is made by a Commonwealth country, the request shall identify the article or thing which is to be obtained and, so far as is reasonably practicable, shall contain all information available to the central authority for the country which may be required to be adduced in an application under the law of Trinidad and Tobago for any necessary warrant or authorisation to effect a seizure of that article or thing.

5. Where a request such as is referred to in section 26 is made by a Commonwealth country, the request shall identify the subject on which evidence or information is to be provided and state the reasons for requiring the personal appearance of the prisoner.

6. Where a request such as is referred to in section 28 is made by a Commonwealth country, the request shall—

(a) be accompanied by the document to be served; and
(b) where that document relates to the attendance of any person in the country, give such notice as that country is able to provide of outstanding warrants or other judicial orders in criminal matters against that person.

7. Where a request such as is referred to in section 29 is made by a Commonwealth country, the request shall—

(a) be accompanied by the certificate given by the Attorney General;
(b) give details of the specified serious offence; and
(c) state the grounds for suspecting that the relevant property is in Trinidad and Tobago and give any information in the possession of the country which will assist in identifying or locating that property.

8. Where a request such as is referred to in section 30 is made by a Commonwealth country, the request shall—

(a) be accompanied by the certificate given by the Attorney General;

(b) be accompanied by a copy of the order made in the country—
(i) sealed by the Court that made the order; or
(ii) duly authenticated in accordance with section 35(2)(a), and identify the relevant law under which the order was made;

(c) give details of the specified serious offence;

(d) in the case of an order such as is referred to in section 31(1)(a)(ii)(A) or (B), be accompanied by a certificate given by the Attorney General to the effect that the person against whom the order was made appeared in the proceedings or, if he did not do so, that he received the notice of the proceedings specified in the certificate;

(e) state the grounds for suspecting that the relevant property is in Trinidad and Tobago and give any information in the possession of the country which will assist in identifying or locating the property; and

(f) give particulars of any amount paid or recovered under the order.

9. Where a request such as is referred to in section 31 is made by a Commonwealth country, the request shall—

(a) be accompanied by the certificate given by the Attorney General;

(b) if relevant, be accompanied by a copy of the Order made in the country—
(i) sealed by the Court that made the order; or
(ii) duly authenticated in accordance with section 35(2)(a), and identify the law under which the order was made;

(c) if relevant, state the grounds for believing that an order is likely to be made;

(d) give details of the serious offence in respect of which the order was or, as the case may be, is likely to be, made; and

(e) state the grounds for suspecting that the relevant property is in Trinidad and Tobago and give any information in the possession of the country which will assist in identifying the property.

10. After giving preliminary consideration to a request for assistance under this Act made by a Commonwealth country, the Central Authority may require the central authority for that country to furnish further information relative to the request and if that information is not furnished within such period as the Central Authority considers reasonable, the request shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.

Article 58
Issuance by the Pre-Trial Chamber of a warrant of arrest or a summons to appear
1. At any time after the initiation of an investigation, the Pre-Trial Chamber shall, on the application of the Prosecutor, issue a warrant of arrest of a person if, having examined the application and the evidence or other information submitted by the Prosecutor, it is satisfied that:
(a) There are reasonable grounds to believe that the person has committed a crime within the jurisdiction of the Court; and
(b) The arrest of the person appears necessary:
(i) To ensure the person's appearance at trial;
(ii) To ensure that the person does not obstruct or endanger the investigation or the court proceedings; or
(iii) Where applicable, to prevent the person from continuing with the commission of that crime or a related crime which is within the jurisdiction of the Court and which arises out of the same circumstances.
2. The application of the Prosecutor shall contain:
(a) The name of the person and any other relevant identifying information;
(b) A specific reference to the crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court which the person is alleged to have committed;
(c) A concise statement of the facts which are alleged to constitute those crimes;
(d) A summary of the evidence and any other information which establish reasonable grounds to believe that the person committed those crimes; and
(e) The reason why the Prosecutor believes that the arrest of the person is necessary.
3. The warrant of arrest shall contain:
(a) The name of the person and any other relevant identifying information;
(b) A specific reference to the crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court for which the person's arrest is sought; and
(c) A concise statement of the facts which are alleged to constitute those crimes.
4. The warrant of arrest shall remain in effect until otherwise ordered by the Court.
5. On the basis of the warrant of arrest, the Court may request the provisional arrest or the arrest and surrender of the person under Part 9.
6. The Prosecutor may request the Pre-Trial Chamber to amend the warrant of arrest by modifying or adding to the crimes specified therein. The Pre-Trial Chamber shall so amend the warrant if it is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the person committed the modified or additional crimes.
7. As an alternative to seeking a warrant of arrest, the Prosecutor may submit an application requesting that the Pre-Trial Chamber issue a summons for the person to appear. If the Pre-Trial
Chamber is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the person committed the
crime alleged and that a summons is sufficient to ensure the person's appearance, it shall issue the
summons, with or without conditions restricting liberty (other than detention) if provided for by national law, for the person to appear. The summons shall contain:
(a) The name of the person and any other relevant identifying information;
(b) The specified date on which the person is to appear;
(c) A specific reference to the crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court which the person is alleged to have committed; and
(d) A concise statement of the facts which are alleged to constitute the crime.
The summons shall be served on the person.

Article 91
Contents of request for arrest and surrender
1. A request for arrest and surrender shall be made in writing. In urgent cases, a request may be made by any medium capable of delivering a written record, provided that the request shall be confirmed through the channel provided for in article 87, paragraph 1 (a).
2. In the case of a request for the arrest and surrender of a person for whom a warrant of arrest has been issued by the Pre-Trial Chamber under article 58, the request shall contain or be supported by:
(a) Information describing the person sought, sufficient to identify the person, and information as to that person's probable location;
(b) A copy of the warrant of arrest; and
(c) Such documents, statements or information as may be necessary to meet the requirements for the surrender process in the requested State, except that those requirements should not be more burdensome than those applicable to requests for extradition pursuant to treaties or arrangements
between the requested State and other States and should, if possible, be less burdensome, taking into account the distinct nature of the Court.
3. In the case of a request for the arrest and surrender of a person already convicted, the request shall contain or be supported by:
(a) A copy of any warrant of arrest for that person;
(b) A copy of the judgement of conviction;
(c) Information to demonstrate that the person sought is the one referred to in the judgement of conviction; and
(d) If the person sought has been sentenced, a copy of the sentence imposed and, in the case of a sentence for imprisonment, a statement of any time already served and the time remaining to be served.
4. Upon the request of the Court, a State Party shall consult with the Court, either generally or with respect to a specific matter, regarding any requirements under its national law that may apply under paragraph 2 (c). During the consultations, the State Party shall advise the Court of the specific requirements of its national law.