Article 544. Executing a Request for the Extradition of Persons who are on the Territory of the Republic of Moldova
(1) A foreign citizen or stateless person under criminal investigation or convicted in a foreign state for the commission of an act subject to punishment in that state may be extradited to this foreign state upon the request of the competent authorities, in view of prosecuting or executing the sentence pronounced for the act committed or of pronouncing a new sentence.
(2) A foreign citizen or stateless person convicted in a foreign state for the commission of an act subject to punishment in that state may be extradited to the foreign state that has taken over the execution upon the request of the competent authorities of the state, in view of executing the sentence pronounced for the act committed or of pronouncing a new sentence.
(3) Extradition for the purpose of criminal investigation shall be granted only if the act is punishable under the legislation of the Republic of Moldova and the maximum punishment is at least one year of imprisonment or if, after a similar inversion of things, the act would be subject to such a punishment under the legislation of the Republic of Moldova.
(4) Extradition for the purpose of executing a sentence shall be granted only if extradition under para. (3) is admissible and if a punishment depriving liberty is to be executed. Extradition shall be granted if the term of detention to be served or the cumulation of the detention terms to be executed is of at least six months unless an international treaty provides otherwise.
(5) If the extradition of a person is requested by several states either for the same act or for different acts, the Republic of Moldova shall decide on extradition considering all the circumstances, including the seriousness and place of commission of the crimes, the respective data from the requests, the citizenship of the person solicited and the possibility of subsequent extradition to another state.
(6) If the Prosecutor General or, as the case may be, the Minister of Justice considers that the person solicited by the foreign state or international court may not be extradited, he/she shall refuse extradition in a reasoned decision, and if considering that the person may be extradited he/she shall make a motion to the court within the territorial jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice and shall attached thereto the request and the documents of the requesting state.
(7) The motion for extradition shall be resolved by the investigative judge from the court located in the territorial jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice with the participation of the prosecutor, a representative of the Ministry of Justice (if convicts are to be extradited), the person whose extradition is requested and his/her defense counsel selected or appointed in line with the Law on the Legal Assistance Guaranteed by the State. The motion for the extradition of an arrestee shall be resolved urgently. A motion for extradition shall be resolved in the manner provided by law. The court is not competent to pronounce on the propriety of the investigation or conviction for which the foreign authority requests extradition.
(8) Should the court find that all the conditions for extradition are met, it shall admit in a judgment the request for extradition and shall decide to keep the person under preventive arrest until extradition. Should the court find that the conditions for extradition are not met, it shall reject the request and shall order the release of the person whose extradition is requested. The judgment shall be edited within not more than 24 hours from pronouncement and shall be transmitted to the General Prosecutor’s Office or to the Ministry of Justice.
(9) The court judgment on extradition may be subject to cassation by the prosecutor and by the extradited person or his/her attorney within 10 days from pronouncement to the Chisinau Court of Appeals. Cassation shall be heard in line with the provisions of Section 2, Chapter IV, Title II of the Special Part of this Code. The final judgment of the investigative judge shall be sent to the General Prosecutor’s Office and to the Ministry of Justice for execution or for the information of the requesting state.
(a) The Court shall have the authority to make requests to States Parties for cooperation. The requests shall be transmitted through the diplomatic channel or any other appropriate channel as may be designated by each State Party upon ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. Subsequent changes to the designation shall be made by each State Party in accordance with the Rules of Procedure and Evidence.
(b) When appropriate, without prejudice to the provisions of subparagraph (a), requests may also be transmitted through the International Criminal Police Organization or any appropriate regional organization.
2. Requests for cooperation and any documents supporting the request shall either be in or be accompanied by a translation into an official language of the requested State or one of the working languages of the Court, in accordance with the choice made by that State upon ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. Subsequent changes to this choice shall be made in accordance with the Rules of Procedure and Evidence.
3. The requested State shall keep confidential a request for cooperation and any documents supporting the request, except to the extent that the disclosure is necessary for execution of the request.
4. In relation to any request for assistance presented under this Part, the Court may take such measures, including measures related to the protection of information, as may be necessary to ensure the safety or physical or psychological well-being of any victims, potential witnesses and their families. The Court may request that any information that is made available under this Part shall be provided and handled in a manner that protects the safety and physical or psychological well-being of any victims, potential witnesses and their families.
(a) The Court may invite any State not party to this Statute to provide assistance under this Part on the basis of an ad hoc arrangement, an agreement with such State or any other appropriate basis.
(b) Where a State not party to this Statute, which has entered into an ad hoc arrangement or an agreement with the Court, fails to cooperate with requests pursuant to any such arrangement or agreement, the Court may so inform the Assembly of States Parties or, where the Security Council referred the matter to the Court, the Security Council.
6. The Court may ask any intergovernmental organization to provide information or documents. The Court may also ask for other forms of cooperation and assistance which may be agreed upon with such an organization and which are in accordance with its competence or mandate.
7. Where a State Party fails to comply with a request to cooperate by the Court contrary to the provisions of this Statute, thereby preventing the Court from exercising its functions and powers under this Statute, the Court may make a finding to that effect and refer the matter to the Assembly of States Parties or, where the Security Council referred the matter to the Court, to the Security Council.