Search and seizure - national procedures for ICC proceedings

Commonwealth of Australia

Australia - International Criminal Court Act No. 41 2002 (2018) EN

Part 2—General provisions relating to requests by the ICC for cooperation

7 What constitutes a request for cooperation
(1)
(a)
(ix) the execution of searches and seizures;

Part 4—Other requests by ICC

Division 14—Identification, tracing, and freezing or seizure, of proceeds of crimes within the jurisdiction of the ICC

Subdivision F—Search warrants relating to proceeds of crime and evidential material

100 Return of seized property to third parties
(1) A person who claims an interest in property that has been seized under a POCA search warrant in relation to a crime within the jurisdiction of the ICC may apply to a court for an order that the property be returned to the person.
(2) The court must be a court of the State or Territory in which the POCA search warrant was issued that has proceeds jurisdiction.
(3) The court must order the responsible enforcement agency head to return the property to the applicant if the court is satisfied that:
(a) the applicant is entitled to possession of the property; and
(b) the property is not proceeds of the relevant crime within the jurisdiction of the ICC; and
(c) the person who is believed or alleged to have committed the relevant crime within the jurisdiction of the ICC has no interest in the property.
(4) If the court makes such an order, the responsible enforcement agency head must arrange for the property to be returned to the applicant.
(5) This section does not apply to property that has been seized under a POCA search warrant because:
(a) it is evidential material; or
(b) it is property of a kind referred to in subparagraph 99A(a)(iv) or (v).

101 Dealing with certain seized property
(1) Property must be dealt with in accordance with this section if:
(a) it has been seized under a POCA search warrant in relation to a crime within the jurisdiction of the ICC; and
(b) it is not:
(i) evidential material; or
(ii) property of a kind referred to in subparagraph 99A(a)(iv) or (v).

General rule—property to be returned after 30 days
(2) If, at the end of the period of 30 days after the day on which the property was seized:
(a) a forfeiture order in relation to the property has not been registered in a court under Part 11; and
(b) a restraining order has not been made as described in Subdivision B in respect of the property in relation to the crime within the jurisdiction of the ICC; the responsible enforcement agency head must, unless subsection (3), (5) or (7) applies, arrange for the property to be returned to the person from whose possession it was seized as soon as practicable after the end of that period.

Effect of restraining orders being registered or obtained
(3) If, before the end of that period, a restraining order is made as described in Subdivision B in respect of the property in relation to the crime within the jurisdiction of the ICC, the responsible enforcement agency head:
(a) if there is in force, at the end of that period, a direction by a court that the Official Trustee take custody and control of the property—must arrange for the property to be given to the Official Trustee in accordance with the direction; or
(b) if there is in force at the end of that period an order under subsection (6) in relation to the property—must arrange for the property to be retained until it is dealt with in accordance with another provision of this Act or the Proceeds of Crime Act.
(4) If the property is subject to a direction of a kind referred to in paragraph (3)(a), the Proceeds of Crime Act applies to the property as if it were controlled property within the meaning of that Act.

Retaining property despite restraining orders
(5) If, at a time when the property is in the possession of the responsible enforcement agency head, a restraining order has been made as described in Subdivision B in respect of the property in relation to the crime within the jurisdiction of the ICC, the responsible enforcement agency head may apply to the court in which the restraining order was registered, or by which the restraining order was made, for an order that the responsible enforcement agency head retain possession of the property.
(6) If the court is satisfied that the responsible enforcement agency head requires the property to be retained to give effect to the proceeds request, the court may make an order that the responsible enforcement agency head may retain the property for so long as the property is so required.

Effect of forfeiture orders by the ICC being registered or obtained
(7) If, while the property is in the possession of the responsible enforcement agency head, a forfeiture order in respect of the property is registered in a court under Part 11, the responsible enforcement agency head must deal with the property as required by the forfeiture order.

102 Dealing with evidential material and certain property or things seized under POCA search warrants
(1) This section applies if:
(a) property or a thing (the seized item) is seized under a POCA search warrant in relation to a crime within the jurisdiction of the ICC; and
(b) the seized item is:
(i) evidential material; or
(ii) property or a thing of a kind referred to in subparagraph 99A(a)(iv); and
(c) the seized item is seized by a person (the seizing officer) who is:
(i) an authorised officer; or
(ii) a person assisting in relation to the warrant.
(2) The seizing officer may retain the seized item for a period not exceeding 1 month pending a written direction from the Attorney-General as to how to deal with the seized item.
(3) Without limiting the directions that may be given under subsection (2), the Attorney-General may direct the seizing officer to send the seized item to the ICC.

Rome Statute

Article 93 Other forms of cooperation

1. States Parties shall, in accordance with the provisions of this Part and under procedures of national law, comply with requests by the Court to provide the following assistance in relation to investigations or prosecutions:

(h) The execution of searches and seizures;