Temporary transfer of persons in custody for purposes of identification or for obtaining testimony or other assistance

Commonwealth of Australia

Australia - Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act No. 85 1987 (2018)

Part IV—Arrangements for persons to give evidence or assist investigations
Division 1—Requests by Australia
16 Requests for removal of certain persons to Australia
(1) Where:
(a) a proceeding relating to a criminal matter has commenced in Australia; and
(b) a person who is in a foreign country:
(i) is a foreign prisoner;
(ii) is capable of giving evidence relevant to the proceeding; and
(iii) has given his or her consent to being removed to Australia for the purpose of giving evidence in the proceeding;
Australia may request the foreign country to authorise the attendance of the person at a hearing in connection with the proceeding.
(2) Where:
(a) an investigation relating to a criminal matter has commenced in Australia; and
(b) a person who is in a foreign country:
(i) is a foreign prisoner;
(ii) is capable of giving assistance in relation to the investigation; and
(iii) has given his or her consent to being removed to Australia for the purposes of giving assistance in relation to the investigation;
Australia may request the foreign country to authorise the removal of the person to Australia for the purpose of giving assistance in relation to the investigation.
(3) If a request is made under subsection (1) or (2), the Attorney General may make arrangements with an appropriate authority of the foreign country for the purposes of:
(a) the removal of the person to Australia;
(b) the custody of the person while in Australia;
(c) the return of the person to the foreign country; and
(d) other relevant matters.

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:

(f) The temporary transfer of persons as provided in paragraph 7;

7.

(a) The Court may request the temporary transfer of a person in custody for purposes of identification or for obtaining testimony or other assistance. The person may be transferred if the following conditions are fulfilled:

(i) The person freely gives his or her informed consent to the transfer; and

(ii) The requested State agrees to the transfer, subject to such conditions as that State and the Court may agree.

(b) The person being transferred shall remain in custody. When the purposes of the transfer have been fulfilled, the Court shall return the person without delay to the requested State.