''Part I-PRELIMINARY, 8. Requests by Fiji ''
(1) A request for international assistance in a criminal matter that Fiji is authorised to make under this Act, unless otherwise provided, shall be made by the Attorney-General.
(2) Subsection (1) does not prevent the Attorney-General on behalf of Fiji from requesting international assistance in a criminal matter of a kind that may be requested under this Act.
''Part I-PRELIMINARY, 9. Requests by foreign country''
(1) A request by a foreign country for international assistance in a criminal matter may be made to the Attorney-General or a person authorised by the Attorney-General to receive requests by foreign countries under this Act.
(2) A request shall be in writing and include the following information-
(a) the name of the authority concerned with the criminal matter to which the request relates;
(b) a description of the nature of the criminal matter and a statement setting out a summary of the relevant facts and laws;
(c) a description of the purpose of the request and of the nature of the assistance being sought;
(d) any information that may assist in giving effect to the request;
Provided that the failure to comply with this subsection is not a ground for refusing the request.
(3) Where a request by a foreign country is made to a person authorised under subsection (1), the
request shall be taken, for the purposes of this Act, to have been made to the Attorney-General.
(4) If a foreign country makes a request to another person or body in Fiji for international assistance in a criminal matter -
(a) that other person or body shall refer the request to the Attorney-General; and
(b) the request is then to be taken, for the purposes of the Act, to have been made to the Attorney-General.
''Part IV-ARRANGEMENTS FOR PERSONS TO GIVE EVIDENCE OR ASSIST INVESTIGATIONS, Division 2 - Requests by foreign countries, 24. Requests for assistance in relation to investigation in foreign countries''
(1) Where-
(a) an investigation relating to a criminal matter has commenced in a foreign country;
(b) the foreign country requests the removal of a prisoner who is in Fiji (whether or not in custody) to the foreign country for the purpose of giving assistance in relation to the investigation;
(c) there are reasonable grounds to believe that the prisoner is capable of giving assistance in relation to the investigation; and
(d) the Attorney-General is satisfied that-
(i) the prisoner has consented to being removed to the foreign country for the purpose of giving assistance in relation to the investigations, and
(ii) the foreign country has given adequate (whether or not unqualified) undertakings in respect of the matters referred to in subsection (3), the Attorney-General may-
(A) where the prisoner is being held in custody, direct that the prisoner be released from prison for the purpose of travelling to the foreign country to give assistance in relation to the investigation and, subject to the making or giving of any necessary directions or approvals in relation to the release of the prisoner, make arrangements for the travel of the prisoner to the foreign country in the custody of a police or prison officer appointed by the Attorney-General for the purpose; or
(B) where the prisoner, having been released from custody on a parole or other order or licence to be at large, is not being held in custody, approve the travel of the prisoner to the foreign country for the purpose of giving assistance in relation to the investigation and obtain approvals, authorisation, permission or variations to the parole or other order or licence to be at large as may be required and, make arrangements for the travel of the prisoner to the foreign country in the custody of a police or prison officer appointed by the Attorney-General for the purpose.
(2) Where-
(a) a criminal investigation has commenced in a foreign country;
(b) the foreign country requests that a person (not being a prisoner) who is in Fiji travel to the foreign country to give assistance in relation to the investigation;
(c) there are reasonable grounds to believe that the person is capable of giving assistance in relation to the investigations; and
(d) the Attorney-General is satisfied that-
(i) the person has consented to travel to the foreign country for the purpose of giving assistance in relation to the investigations, and
(ii) the foreign country has given adequate (whether or not unqualified) undertakings in respect of the matters referred to in subsection (3),
the Attorney-General may, make arrangements for the travel of the person to the foreign country.
(3) The matters in relation to which undertakings are to be given by a foreign country for the purpose of a request that a person be removed to, or travel to, the foreign country for the purpose of giving assistance in relation to an investigation are-
(a) that the person shall not-
(i) be detained, prosecuted or punished for any offence against the law of the foreign country that is alleged to have been committed, or that was committed, before the person's departure from Fiji;
(ii) be subjected to any civil suit in respect of any act or omission of the person that is alleged to have occurred, or that occurred, before the person's departure from Fiji, being a civil suit to which the person could not be subjected to if the person were not in the foreign country; or
(iii) be required to give in any proceedings in the foreign country, unless-
(A) the person has left the foreign country; or
(B) the person has had the opportunity of leaving the foreign country and has remained in that country otherwise than for the purpose of giving assistance in relation to the investigation to which the request relates;
(b) that the person shall be returned to Fiji in accordance with arrangements agreed by the Attorney-General;
(c) where the person is being held in custody in Fiji and the Attorney-General requests the foreign country to make arrangements for the keeping of the person in custody while the person is in the foreign country-
(i) the making of appropriate arrangements for that purpose;
(ii) that the person shall not be released from custody in the foreign country unless the Attorney-General notifies an appropriate authority of the foreign country that the person is entitled to be released from custody under Fiji law; and
(iii) if the person is released in the foreign country as mentioned in subparagraph (ii), that the person's accommodation and expenses pending the completion of the investigation to which the request relates shall be paid for by the foreign country; or
(d) other matters as the Attorney-General thinks appropriate.
''Part IX -MISCELLANEOUS, 50. Requests for international assistance not to be disclosed''
(1) A person who, because of his or her office or employment, has knowledge of -
(a) the contents of a request for international assistance made by a foreign country to Fiji under this Act;
(b) the fact that the request has been made; or
(c) that fact that the request has been granted or refused, shall not intentionally disclose those contents or that fact except if-
(d) it is necessary to do so in the performance of his or her duties; or
(e) the Attorney-General had given his or her approval to the disclosure of those contents or that fact.
(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable, on conviction, to-
(a) if the person is a natural person-a fine not exceeding $12,000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 2 year, or both; or
(b) if the person is a body corporate-a fine not exceeding $60,000.
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:
(a) The identification and whereabouts of persons or the location of items;
(b) The taking of evidence, including testimony under oath, and the production of evidence, including expert opinions and reports necessary to the Court;
(c) The questioning of any person being investigated or prosecuted;
(d) The service of documents, including judicial documents;
(e) Facilitating the voluntary appearance of persons as witnesses or experts before the Court;
(f) The temporary transfer of persons as provided in paragraph 7;
(g) The examination of places or sites, including the exhumation and examination of grave sites;
(h) The execution of searches and seizures;
(i) The provision of records and documents, including official records and documents;
(j) The protection of victims and witnesses and the preservation of evidence;
(k) The identification, tracing and freezing or seizure of proceeds, property and assets and instrumentalities of crimes for the purpose of eventual forfeiture, without prejudice to the rights of bona fide third parties; and
(l) Any other type of assistance which is not prohibited by the law of the requested State, with a view to facilitating the investigation and prosecution of crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court.
2. The Court shall have the authority to provide an assurance to a witness or an expert appearing before the Court that he or she will not be prosecuted, detained or subjected to any restriction of personal freedom by the Court in respect of any act or omission that preceded the departure of that person from the requested State.
3. Where execution of a particular measure of assistance detailed in a request presented under paragraph 1, is prohibited in the requested State on the basis of an existing fundamental legal principle of general application, the requested State shall promptly consult with the Court to try to resolve the matter. In the consultations, consideration should be given to whether the assistance can be rendered in another manner or subject to conditions. If after consultations the matter cannot be resolved, the Court shall modify the request as necessary.
4. In accordance with article 72, a State Party may deny a request for assistance, in whole or in part, only if the request concerns the production of any documents or disclosure of evidence which relates to its national security.
5. Before denying a request for assistance under paragraph 1 (l), the requested State shall consider whether the assistance can be provided subject to specified conditions, or whether the assistance can be provided at a later date or in an alternative manner, provided that if the Court or the Prosecutor accepts the assistance subject to conditions, the Court or the Prosecutor shall abide by them.
6. If a request for assistance is denied, the requested State Party shall promptly inform the Court or the Prosecutor of the reasons for such denial.
(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.
(a) The Court shall ensure the confidentiality of documents and information, except as required for the investigation and proceedings described in the request.
(b) The requested State may, when necessary, transmit documents or information to the Prosecutor on a confidential basis. The Prosecutor may then use them solely for the purpose of generating new evidence.
(c) The requested State may, on its own motion or at the request of the Prosecutor, subsequently consent to the disclosure of such documents or information. They may then be used as evidence pursuant to the provisions of Parts 5 and 6 and in accordance with the Rules of Procedure and Evidence.
(i) In the event that a State Party receives competing requests, other than for surrender or extradition, from the Court and from another State pursuant to an international obligation, the State Party shall endeavour, in consultation with the Court and the other State, to meet both requests, if necessary by postponing or attaching conditions to one or the other request.
(ii) Failing that, competing requests shall be resolved in accordance with the principles established in article 90.
(b) Where, however, the request from the Court concerns information, property or persons which are subject to the control of a third State or an international organization by virtue of an international agreement, the requested States shall so inform the Court and the Court shall direct its request to the third State or international organization.
(a) The Court may, upon request, cooperate with and provide assistance to a State Party conducting an investigation into or trial in respect of conduct which constitutes a crime within the jurisdiction of the Court or which constitutes a serious crime under the national law of the requesting State.
(b)
(i) The assistance provided under subparagraph (a) shall include, inter alia:
a. The transmission of statements, documents or other types of evidence obtained in the course of an investigation or a trial conducted by the Court; and
b. The questioning of any person detained by order of the Court;
(ii) In the case of assistance under subparagraph (b) (i) a:
a. If the documents or other types of evidence have been obtained with the assistance of a State, such transmission shall require the consent of that State;
b. If the statements, documents or other types of evidence have been provided by a witness or expert, such transmission shall be subject to the provisions of article 68.
(c) The Court may, under the conditions set out in this paragraph, grant a request for assistance under this paragraph from a State which is not a Party to this Statute.