PART III – MAKING AND EXECUTION OF LEGAL ASSISTANCE REQUESTS


8. Incoming requests for legal assistance

(1) A request from a requesting state shall be made in writing to the Central Authority.

(2) Upon receipt of the request under subsection (1), the Central Authority shall as soon as is reasonably practicable acknowledge receipt of such request and forthwith transmit the same to the relevant competent authority.

(3) For the purpose of subsection (1), “in writing” includes e-mail, facsimile or other agreed forms of electronic transmission provided that appropriate levels of security and authentication are put in place.

(4) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Competent Authority shall grant the legal assistance requested in subsection (1) as expeditiously as practicable.

(5) The Competent Authority may seek additional information from a requesting state if it considers necessary.

(6) If the Competent Authority considers that—
(a) the request does not comply with the provisions of this Act; or
(b) in accordance with the provisions of this Act, the request for legal assistance is to be refused in whole or in part; or
(c) the request cannot be complied with, in whole or in part; or
(d) there are circumstances which are likely to cause a significant delay in complying with the request,
it shall promptly inform a requesting state, giving reasons .

Article 59
Arrest proceedings in the custodial State
1. A State Party which has received a request for provisional arrest or for arrest and surrender shall immediately take steps to arrest the person in question in accordance with its laws and the provisions of Part 9.
2. A person arrested shall be brought promptly before the competent judicial authority in the custodial State which shall determine, in accordance with the law of that State, that:
(a) The warrant applies to that person;
(b) The person has been arrested in accordance with the proper process; and
(c) The person's rights have been respected.
3. The person arrested shall have the right to apply to the competent authority in the custodial State for interim release pending surrender.
4. In reaching a decision on any such application, the competent authority in the custodial State shall consider whether, given the gravity of the alleged crimes, there are urgent and exceptional circumstances to justify interim release and whether necessary safeguards exist to ensure that the custodial State can fulfil its duty to surrender the person to the Court. It shall not be open to the competent authority of the custodial State to consider whether the warrant of arrest was properly issued in accordance with article 58, paragraph 1 (a) and (b).
5. The Pre-Trial Chamber shall be notified of any request for interim release and shall make recommendations to the competent authority in the custodial State. The competent authority in the
custodial State shall give full consideration to such recommendations, including any recommendations on measures to prevent the escape of the person, before rendering its decision.
6. If the person is granted interim release, the Pre-Trial Chamber may request periodic reports on the status of the interim release.
7. Once ordered to be surrendered by the custodial State, the person shall be delivered to the Court as soon as possible.

Article 89
Surrender of persons to the Court
1. The Court may transmit a request for the arrest and surrender of a person, together with the material supporting the request outlined in article 91, to any State on the territory of which that person may be found and shall request the cooperation of that State in the arrest and surrender of such a person. States Parties shall, in accordance with the provisions of this Part and the procedure under their national law, comply with requests for arrest and surrender.