Estonia

The Penal Code

Part 1
GENERAL PART

Chapter 7
OTHER SANCTIONS

§ 83. Confiscation of object used to commit offence and direct object of offence

(1) A court may apply confiscation of the object used to commit an intentional offence if it belongs to the offender at the time of the making of the judgment or ruling.

(2) In the cases provided by law, a court may confiscate the substance or object which was the direct object of the commission of an intentional offence, or the substance or object used for preparation of the offence if these belong to the offender at the time of the making of the judgment and confiscation thereof is not mandatory pursuant to law.

(3) As an exception, a court may confiscate the objects or substance specified in subsections (1) and (2) of this section if it belongs to a third person at the time of the making of the judgment or ruling and the person :

1) has, at least through recklessness, aided in the use of the objects or substance for the commission or preparation of the offence,
2) has acquired the objects or substance, in full or in the essential part, on account of the offender, as a present or in any other manner for a price which is considerably lower than the normal market price ; or
3) knew that the objects or substance was transferred to the person in order to avoid confiscation thereof.

(3 1) If the object used to commit an intentional offence or direct object of offence was used by the person on the basis of a contract for use or contract of sale with a reservation on ownership, a court many confiscate the proprietary rights of the person arising from that contract.
[ - entry into force 27.12.2008]

(4) In the absence of the permission necessary for the possession of an object or substance, such object or substance shall be confiscated.

(5) In the cases provided for in subsection (4) of this section, a device, object or substance may be confiscated if the person has committed at least an unlawful act.

(6) In the cases provided for in subsections (1), (2) and (4) of this section, the object used to commit a misdemeanour or the substance or object which was the direct object of a misdemeanour may be confiscated by the extra-judicial body prescribed by law.
[ - entry into force 01.02.2007]

§ 83 1. Confiscation of assets acquired through offence

(1) A court shall confiscate of the assets acquired through an offence object if these belong to the offender at the time of the making of the judgment or ruling.

(2) As an exception, a court shall confiscate the assets or substance specified in subsection (1) this section if these belong to a third person at the time of the making of the judgment or ruling, and if :

1) these were acquired, in full or in the essential part, on account of the offender, as a present or in any other manner for a price which is considerably lower than the normal market price ; or
2) the third person knew that that the assets were transferred to the person in order to avoid confiscation.

(3) The court may decide not to confiscate, in part or in full, property acquired through offence if, taking account of the circumstances of the offence or the situation of the person, confiscation would be unreasonably burdensome or if the value of the assets is disproportionably small in comparison to the costs of storage, transfer or destruction of the property. The court may, for the purpose of satisfaction of a civil action, decrease the amount of the property or assets to be confiscated by the amount of the object of the action.
[ - entry into force 01.02.2007]

§ 83 2. Extended confiscation of assets acquired through criminal offence

(1) If a court convicts a person of a criminal offence and imposes imprisonment for a term of more than three years or life imprisonment, the court shall, in the cases provided by this Code, confiscate a part or all of the criminal offender's assets if these belong to the offender at the time of the making of the judgment, and if the nature of the criminal offence, the legal income, or the difference between the financial situation and the standard of living of the person, or another fact gives reason to presume that the person has acquired the assets through commission of the criminal offence. Confiscation is not applied to assets with regard to which the person certifies that such assets have been acquired out of lawfully received funds.

(2) As an exception, a court may confiscate the assets of a third person on the bases and to the extent specified in subsection (1) this section if these belong to the third person at the time of the making of the judgment or ruling, and if :

1) these were acquired, in full or in the essential part, on account of the offender, as a present or in any other manner for a price which is considerably lower than the normal market price ; or
2) the third person knew that that the assets were transferred to the person in order to avoid confiscation.

(3) Assets of a third party which has been acquired more than five years prior to the commission of a criminal offence shall not be confiscated.

(4) Upon extended confiscation of assets acquired through criminal offence, the court shall take account of the provisions of subsection 831 (3) of this Code.
[ - entry into force 01.02.2007]

§ 84. Substitution of confiscation

If assets acquired by an offence have been transferred, consumed or the confiscation thereof is impossible or unreasonable for another reason, the court may order payment of an amount which corresponds to the value of the assets subject to confiscation.
[ - entry into force 01.02.2007]

§ 85. Effect of confiscation

(1) Confiscated objects shall be transferred into state ownership or, in the cases provided for in an international agreement, shall be returned.

(2) In the case of confiscation, the rights of third persons remain in force. The state shall pay compensation to third persons, except in the cases provided for in subsections 83(3) and (4), 831 (2) and 832 (2) of this Code.
[ - entry into force 01.02.2007]

(3) Before entry into force, the decision of an extra-judicial body or court concerning confiscation has the effect of a prohibition against disposal.

Keywords

Enforcement of forfeiture orders
Enforcement of sentences imposed
Enforcement of national penalties - forfeiture orders



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