PART III - FORMS OF MUTUAL ASSISTANCE

11. Foreign request for restraining order

(1) Where-

(a) a foreign State or an international criminal tribunal requests the Central Authority to obtain the issue of a restraining order against the proceeds of crime which are believed to be located in Mauritius ; and
(b) proceedings relating to the proceeds of crime have commenced in the foreign State, or before the international criminal tribunal, and there are reasonable grounds to believe that the proceeds of the crime are located in Mauritius, the Central Authority may apply to a Judge in Chambers for a restraining order under this section.

(2) Where, upon an application made under subsection (1), the Judge in Chambers is satisfied that the proceeds of crime are located in Mauritius, he may make a restraining order in respect of the proceeds of the crime, on such conditions as he may deem fit to impose, including any condition as to payment of debts, sale, transfer or disposal of any property.

PART III - FORMS OF MUTUAL ASSISTANCE

12. Foreign request for enforcement of foreign restraining order or confiscation

(1) Notwithstanding any other enactment, where a foreign State, or an international criminal tribunal, requests that necessary measures be taken for the enforcement of -

(a) a foreign restraining order ; or
(b) a foreign confiscation order,
the Central Authority may apply to the Supreme Court for registration of the order.

(2) The Supreme Court shall register the foreign restraining order where it is satisfied that, at the time of registration, the order is in force in the foreign State or before the international criminal tribunal.

(3) The Supreme Court shall register the foreign confiscation order where it is satisfied that -

(a) at the time of registration, the order is in force in the foreign State, or before the international criminal tribunal ; and

(b) in the case of a person who did not appear in the proceedings in the foreign State, or before the international criminal tribunal -

(i) the person was given notice of the proceedings in sufficient time to enable him to defend himself ; or
(ii) the person had absconded, or died before such notice could be given.

(4) For the purposes of subsections (2) and (3), a statement contained in the foreign request to the effect that -

(a) the foreign restraining or confiscation order is in force in the foreign State, or before the international criminal tribunal ; or
(b) the person who is the subject of the order was given notice of the proceedings in sufficient time to enable him to defend himself, or had absconded, or died before such notice could be given,
shall be prima facie evidence of the fact, without proof of the signature or official character of the person appearing to have signed the foreign request.

(5) Where a foreign restraining order or foreign confiscation order is registered in accordance with this section, a copy of any amendment made to the order in the foreign State, or before the international criminal tribunal, shall be registered in the same way as the order.

(6) Notice of the registration of any foreign confiscation order or foreign restraining order, shall be published in the Gazette and 2 daily newspapers, one of which shall be specified by the Supreme Court.

(7) Subject to subsection (9), where the foreign restraining order, or foreign confiscation order, comprises a facsimile copy of a duly authenticated foreign order, or amendment made to such an order, the facsimile shall be regarded for the purposes of this Act, as the duly authenticated foreign order.

(8) Any registration effected upon production of a facsimile shall cease to have effect up to the end of the period of 14 days commencing on the date of registration, unless a duly authenticated original of the order is registered by that time.

(9) Where a foreign restraining order, or foreign confiscation order, has been registered pursuant to this section, section 13 shall apply to such registration.

(10) A foreign restraining order shall stay in force until the determination of the proceedings in the foreign State, or by the international criminal tribunal.

PART III - FORMS OF MUTUAL ASSISTANCE

13. Effect of registration of foreign confiscation order or foreign restraining order

(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), where an order has been registered under section 12 and the Supreme Court is notified that it has been established to the satisfaction of a foreign court or international tribunal that the property or any part thereof constitutes the proceeds of crime of a serious offence or of an international tribunal offence, order that the property be confiscated and be vested in the State until such arrangement is made under section 19 by the Central Authority with the foreign State.

(2) The Court may make an order under subsection (1) on such conditions as it may deem fit to impose, including any condition as to payment of debts, sale, transfer or disposal of any property.

(3) Any person who claims to have an interest in property subject to an order registered under section 12 shall, within 21 days from the last publication of the registration under section 12, apply to the Court for an order under subsection (4).

(4) Where the Court is satisfied that the applicant under subsection (3) -

(a) was not in any way involved in the commission of the offence in respect of which the confiscation or restraining order was sought ; and
(b) acquired the property without knowing, and in circumstances such as not to arouse a reasonable suspicion, that the property was, at the time of acquisition tainted property,
the Court shall make an order declaring the nature of the interest of the applicant.