Admissibility challenge - ne bis in idem

New Zealand

International Crimes and International Criminal Court Act 2000

PART 4 - ARREST AND SURRENDER OF PERSON TO ICC

Surrender and temporary surrender

47.
Minister must determine whether person to be surrendered—

(2)The Minister must make a surrender order in respect of the person unless—

(a)the Minister is satisfied that surrender of the person must be refused because a mandatory restriction on surrender specified in section 55(1) applies; or

PART 4 - ARREST AND SURRENDER OF PERSON TO ICC

Restrictions on surrender

55.
Refusal of surrender—

(1)The Minister must refuse a request by the ICC for the surrender of a person if—

(a)there have been previous proceedings against the person and section 57(4) applies; or

PART 4 - ARREST AND SURRENDER OF PERSON TO ICC

Restrictions on surrender

56.
Postponement of execution of request for surrender—

(1)The Minister may postpone the execution of a request for surrender under this Part at any time before the person sought is surrendered if, and only if,—

(a)a ruling on admissibility of the kind specified in section 57(1) or section 59(1) or section 60 is pending before the ICC; or

PART 4 - ARREST AND SURRENDER OF PERSON TO ICC

Restrictions on surrender

57.
Previous proceedings against person sought—

(1)This section applies if the person whose surrender is sought alleges that—

(a)the case is one to which article 20(1) of the Statute applies (because it relates to conduct that formed the basis of crimes for which the person has been convicted or acquitted by the ICC); or

(b)the person has been tried by another court for conduct also proscribed under article 6, 7, or 8 of the Statute and the case is not one to which paragraphs (a) and (b) of article 20(3) of the Statute applies.

(2)If this section applies, the Minister must immediately consult with the ICC to determine if there has been a relevant ruling on admissibility under the Statute.

(3)If the ICC has ruled that the case is admissible, surrender cannot be refused on the ground there have been previous proceedings.

(4)If the ICC has ruled that the case is inadmissible under article 20 of the Statute, surrender must be refused on the ground that there have been previous proceedings.

(5)If an admissibility ruling is pending, the Minister may postpone the execution of a request until the ICC has made a determination on admissibility.

Cf Statute, articles 20(1) and (3), 89(2)

Rome Statute

Article 19 Challenges to the jurisdiction of the Court or the admissibility of a case

2. Challenges to the admissibility of a case on the grounds referred to in article 17 or challenges to the jurisdiction of the Court may be made by:

(a) An accused or a person for whom a warrant of arrest or a summons to appear has been issued under article 58;

(b) A State which has jurisdiction over a case, on the ground that it is investigating or prosecuting the case or has investigated or prosecuted; or

(c) A State from which acceptance of jurisdiction is required under article 12.

Article 20 Ne bis in idem

1. Except as provided in this Statute, no person shall be tried before the Court with respect to conduct which formed the basis of crimes for which the person has been convicted or acquitted by the Court.

2. No person shall be tried by another court for a crime referred to in article 5 for which that person has already been convicted or acquitted by the Court.

3. No person who has been tried by another court for conduct also proscribed under article 6, 7, 8 or 8 bis shall be tried by the Court with respect to the same conduct unless the proceedings in the other court:

(a) Were for the purpose of shielding the person concerned from criminal responsibility for crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court; or

(b) Otherwise were not conducted independently or impartially in accordance with the norms of due process recognized by international law and were conducted in a manner which, in the circumstances, was inconsistent with an intent to bring the person concerned to justice.

Article 89 Surrender of persons to the Court

2. Where the person sought for surrender brings a challenge before a national court on the basis of the principle of ne bis in idem as provided in article 20, the requested State shall immediately consult with the Court to determine if there has been a relevant ruling on admissibility. If the case is admissible, the requested State shall proceed with the execution of the request. If an admissibility ruling is pending, the requested State may postpone the execution of the request for surrender of the person until the Court makes a determination on admissibility.