Enforcement of sentences of imprisonment

Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

The International Criminal Court Act 2006

PART VII
PERSONS IN TRANSIT TO ICC OR SERVING SENTENCES IMPOSED BY ICC

Enforcement of Sentences in Trinidad and
Tobago
139. (1) The Attorney General may advise the ICC that Trinidad and Tobago is willing to allow persons who are ICC prisoners as a result of being sentenced to imprisonment by the ICC to serve those sentences in Trinidad and Tobago, subject to any specified conditions.
(2) If advice is given under subsection (1), the Attorney General may, at any time, advise the ICC—
(a) of further conditions that Trinidad and Tobago wishes to impose in relation to the serving of sentences in Trinidad and Tobago by ICC prisoners; or
(b) that it wishes to withdraw a condition referred to in subsection (1) or paragraph (a).
(3) If advice is given under subsection (1), the Attorney General may, at any time, advise the ICC that Trinidad and Tobago is no longer willing to allow ICC prisoners to serve their sentences in Trinidad and Tobago.

(4) Any advice given under subsection (3) does not affect the enforcement of sentences for which the Attorney General has accepted the designation of the ICC under section 140( 1)(c).
140. (1) This section and sections 141 to 156 apply if—
(a) the Attorney General has given advice under section 139(1) and has not withdrawn that advice under section 139(3); and
(b) the ICC imposes a sentence of imprison¬ment on a person—
(i) convicted of an international crime; or
(ii) convicted of an offence against the administration of justice; and
(c) the ICC designates Trinidad and Tobago, under article 103 of the Statute, as the State in which the sentence is to be served.
(2) If the Attorney General accepts the designa¬tion, he shall issue an order for detention in the prescribed form.
(3) The Attorney General may, at any time, ask the ICC to give one or more of the following assurances:
(a) that all or part of the transportation costs incurred by Trinidad and Tobago in the enforcement of the sentence will be met by the ICC;
(b) that the ICC will arrange for the trans¬portation of the ICC prisoner who is the subject of the designation—
(i) to Trinidad and Tobago, for the purpose of enabling his or her sentence to be enforced in Trinidad and Tobago; or


(ii) from Trinidad and Tobago, on the completion of the sentence, or if the ICC prisoner is to be transferred to another country; and
(c) an assurance relating to such other matters as the Attorney General thinks appropriate.
141. (1) If the Attorney General accepts the designation of Trinidad and Tobago as the State in which a sentence of imprisonment imposed by the ICC is to be served, the ICC prisoner may be transported to Trinidad and Tobago in the custody of—
(a) a police officer;
(b) a prison officer; or
(c) a person authorized for the purpose by the ICC.
(2) On arrival in Trinidad and Tobago or, if the person is already in Trinidad and Tobago when the sentence is imposed, on the imposition of the sentence, the ICC prisoner shall be detained in accordance with the Prisons Act, 1954 as if the prisoner had been sentenced to imprisonment under Trinidad and Tobago law.

(3) Notwithstanding subsection (2) and any other enactment—
(a) the ICC prisoner has the right to communi¬cate on a confidential basis with the ICC, without impediment from any person;
(b) a Judge of the ICC or a member of the staff of the ICC may visit the ICC prisoner for the purpose of hearing any representations by the prisoner without the presence of any other person, except any representative of the prisoner;
(c) the ICC prisoner shall not, without the prior agreement of the ICC, be released from prison; and
(d) the Attorney General must advise the ICC if the ICC prisoner is transferred to a hospital.

142. The order for detention issued by the Attorney General under section 140(2) is sufficient authority for the detention of the prisoner to which the notice relates for the purposes of this Part and the Prisons Act—
(a) until the ICC prisoner completes, or is released from, the sentence or is transferred to another country; and
(b) during any further period that the ICC prisoner is required to serve the sentence if the ICC makes an order for recall of the prisoner.
143. The administration of a sentence of imprison¬ment imposed by the ICC that is served in Trinidad and Tobago, including any decision to release or transfer the ICC prisoner, shall be undertaken in accordance with Part 10 of the Statute and the Rules, notwithstanding the provisions of any other Act.
144. (1) This section applies if the ICC, under article 110 of the Statute, decides to review the sentence of an ICC prisoner who is serving that sentence in Trinidad and Tobago.
(2) The Attorney General must direct that the prisoner be transferred to the ICC for the purposes of enabling the ICC to review the prisoner’s sentence if the Minister is satisfied that—
(a) the prisoner is entitled to appear before the ICC at the review of the prisoner’s sentence;
(b) the ICC has requested the prisoner to appear before it at the review; or
(c) the interests of justice require the prisoner’s attendance at the ICC.
(3) On the giving of a direction under subsection (2), the prisoner may be transported to the ICC and, if necessary, from the ICC in the custody of —
(a) a police officer;

(b) a prison officer; or
(c) a person authorized for the purpose by the ICC.
145. (1) This section applies if the ICC—
(a) directs that an ICC prisoner appear before it to give evidence in another case; or
(b) requests that an ICC prisoner appear before it for any other reason.
(2) The Attorney General—
(a) if subsection (1)(a) applies, shall direct that the ICC prisoner be transferred to the ICC; or
(b) if subsection (1)(b) applies, may direct that the ICC prisoner be transferred to the ICC if he is satisfied that the interests of justice require the prisoner’s attendance at the ICC.
(3) If the Attorney General gives a direction under subsection (2), section 144(3) and (4) apply, with any necessary modifications.
(4) This section does not apply if the request by the ICC is a request to which section 95(1) applies.
146. If an ICC prisoner of any nationality is to be transferred from Trinidad and Tobago to another State to complete that sentence, the prisoner may be transported from Trinidad and Tobago to that State in the custody of—
(a) a police officer;
(b) a prison officer; or
(c) a person authorized for the purpose by the ICC.

147. (1) If an ICC prisoner is to complete his sentence in Trinidad and Tobago or to be released at the direction of the ICC while in Trinidad and Tobago and the prisoner is not a Trinidad and Tobago citizen, the Attorney General shall, before the date of completion or release, either—
(a) make a removal order under section 153; or
(b) issue a certificate under section 150 giving the prisoner temporary authority to remain in Trinidad and Tobago.
(2) The Attorney General shall not issue the certificate referred to in subsection (1)(b) unless he is satisfied that—
(a) because of the special circumstances of the ICC prisoner, it would be inappropriate to make a removal order; or
(b) it is desirable to issue a certificate under section 150 in order to facilitate the processing of a request of extradition of the ICC prisoner, or the investigation of an offence, or to enable the prisoner to serve another sentence in Trinidad and Tobago, or for any other reason in the interests of justice.
(3) This section applies subject to section 148.

S
148. (1) An ICC prisoner serving a sentence in Trinidad and Tobago may—
(a) be extradited to another country in accordance with the Extradition (Commonwealth and Foreign Territories) Act, 1985 either—
(i) at the completion of the sentence; or
(ii) during the sentence, but only for a temporary period;

(b) be required to remain in Trinidad and Tobago in order to serve any sentence that the prisoner is liable to serve under Trinidad and Tobago law; or
(c) be required to remain in Trinidad and Tobago to undergo trial for an offence under Trinidad and Tobago law.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) a person to whom—
(a) subsection (1)(a) applies may not be extradited to another country without the prior agreement of the ICC; or
(b) subsection (1)(b) or (c) applies may not be required to serve a sentence in Trinidad and Tobago or to undergo trial for an offence under Trinidad and Tobago law, as the case may be, that relates to an act or omission that occurred before the designation referred to in section 140(1)(c), without the prior agreement of the ICC.
(3) Subsection (2) does not apply to a person
who—
(a) remains voluntarily in Trinidad and Tobago for more than thirty days after the date of completion of, or release from, the sentence imposed by the ICC; or
(b) voluntarily returns to Trinidad and Tobago after having left.
149. (1) Subsection (2) applies if—
(a) an ICC prisoner serving a sentence in another State escapes from custody and is located in Trinidad and Tobago; and
(b) the State designated by the ICC as the State of enforcement of the sentence makes a request to Trinidad and Tobago for extradition in accordance with article 111 of the Statute.

(2) If this subsection applies, the Extradition Act, 1985 applies to a request for extradition—
(a) with any necessary modifications; and
(b) as if the request related to a person who had been convicted of an extradition offence, within the meaning of section 2 of that Act.
(3) Subsection (4) applies if—
(a) an ICC prisoner serving a sentence in Trinidad and Tobago escapes from custody and is located in another State; and
(b) the Attorney General wishes to make a request to that State for the person’s extradition in accordance with article 111.
(4) If this subsection applies, the Attorney General may make a request for the prisoner’s extradition under the Extradition Act, 1985 and that Act applies—
(a) with any necessary modifications; and
(b) as if the request related to a person who had been convicted of an extradition offence, within the meaning of section 2 of that Act.
Certificates and Removal Orders
150. (1) A certificate issued by the Attorney General under this section may—
(a) be issued for a period, not exceeding three months, specified in the certificate;
(b) from time to time, be renewed for further periods not exceeding three months; and
(c) if the Attorney General thinks fit, order that the person named in the certificate be taken into custody.
(2) The certificate is, while it remains in force, sufficient authority for the person named in the certificate to remain in Trinidad and Tobago.

(3) Nothing in the Immigration Act applies to the person named in the certificate while the certificate is in force.
151. The Attorney General shall cancel the certificate issued under section 150 and make a removal order under section 153 in respect of a person if, there do not appear to the Attorney General to be any other grounds on which the person should be permitted to remain in Trinidad and Tobago.


152. (1) If a certificate issued under section 150 orders that a person be taken into custody, the certificate is sufficient authority for a police officer to arrest the person and take him into custody.
(2) A person who is taken into custody under this section shall, unless sooner released, be brought before a Judge as soon as possible and, after that, every twenty-one days while the certificate is in force to determine, in accordance with subsection (3), if the person should be detained in custody or released pending the decisions referred to in section 151.
(3) If a person is brought before a Judge under subsection (2), the judge may, if he is satisfied that the person is the person named in the certificate—
(a) issue a warrant for the detention of the person in custody if he is satisfied that, if not detained, the person is likely to abscond; or
(b) order the release of the person subject to such conditions, if any, that he thinks fit.
(4) A warrant for the detention of the person issued under subsection (3)(a) may authorize the detention of the person in a prison or any other place in which a person could be detained under section 42.

153. (1) A removal order made by the Attorney General under this section may—
(a) either—
(i) require the person who is the subject of the order to be released into or taken into the custody of a police officer; or
(ii) if the person is not in custody, authorize any police officer to take the person into custody;
(b) must specify that the person is to be taken by a police officer and placed on board any craft for the purpose of effecting the person’s removal from Trinidad and Tobago; and
(c) may authorize the detention in custody of the person while awaiting removal from Trinidad and Tobago.
(2) The removal order shall be served on the person named in the order by personal service.
(3) If the removal order authorizes the detention of the person in custody, the person may be detained—
(a) in a prison, or any other place in which a person could be detained under section 42; or
(b) at a seaport or airport.
(4) A removal order made under this section continues in force until it is executed or cancelled.
(5) In this section, “personal service” in relation to a removal order, means personal delivery of the order to the person to whom it relates or, if the person refuses to accept the order, bringing the order to the person’s attention.

154. (1) If a person is not able to be conveyed out of Trinidad and Tobago within forty-eight hours after service of a removal issued under section 153, the person shall be brought before a Judge to determine, in accordance with subsection (2), whether the person should be detained in custody or released pending removal from Trinidad and Tobago.
(2) If a person is brought before a Judge under subsection (1), the judge may, if he is satisfied that the person is the person named in the order—
(a) issue a warrant for the detention of the person in custody if he is satisfied that, if not detained, the person is likely to abscond; or
(b) order the release of the person subject to such conditions, if any, that he thinks fit.
(3) A warrant for the detention of the person issued under subsection (2)(a) may authorize the detention of the person in any place specified in section 153(3).
155. A person to whom this Part applies is not required to hold a permit under the Immigration Act if, and for so long as, he is in Trinidad and Tobago in accordance with this Part, whether or not he is in custody.
156. Nothing in this Part authorizes the making of a removal order under section 153 in respect of a Trinidad and Tobago citizen.

Rome Statute

Article 103 Role of States in enforcement of sentences of imprisonment

1.

(a) A sentence of imprisonment shall be served in a State designated by the Court from a list of States which have indicated to the Court their willingness to accept sentenced persons.

(b) At the time of declaring its willingness to accept sentenced persons, a State may attach conditions to its acceptance as agreed by the Court and in accordance with this Part.

(c) A State designated in a particular case shall promptly inform the Court whether it accepts the Court's designation.

2.

(a) The State of enforcement shall notify the Court of any circumstances, including the exercise of any conditions agreed under paragraph 1, which could materially affect the terms or extent of the imprisonment. The Court shall be given at least 45 days' notice of any such known or foreseeable circumstances. During this period, the State of enforcement shall take no action that might prejudice its obligations under article 110.

(b) Where the Court cannot agree to the circumstances referred to in subparagraph (a), it shall notify the State of enforcement and proceed in accordance with article 104, paragraph 1.

3. In exercising its discretion to make a designation under paragraph 1, the Court shall take into account the following:

(a) The principle that States Parties should share the responsibility for enforcing sentences of imprisonment, in accordance with principles of equitable distribution, as provided in the Rules of Procedure and Evidence;

(b) The application of widely accepted international treaty standards governing the treatment of prisoners;

(c) The views of the sentenced person;

(d) The nationality of the sentenced person;

(e) Such other factors regarding the circumstances of the crime or the person sentenced, or the effective enforcement of the sentence, as may be appropriate in designating the State of enforcement.

4. If no State is designated under paragraph 1, the sentence of imprisonment shall be served in a prison facility made available by the host State, in accordance with the conditions set out in the headquarters agreement referred to in article 3, paragraph 2. In such a case, the costs arising out of the enforcement of a sentence of imprisonment shall be borne by the Court.

Article 105 Enforcement of the sentence

1. Subject to conditions which a State may have specified in accordance with article 103, paragraph 1 (b), the sentence of imprisonment shall be binding on the States Parties, which shall in no case modify it.

2. The Court alone shall have the right to decide any application for appeal and revision. The State of enforcement shall not impede the making of any such application by a sentenced person.