Cooperation under procedures of national law

Republic of Sierra Leone

The Criminal Procedure Act

PART I – GENERAL PROVISIONS PROCEDURE

ARREST GENERALLY

4. (1) In making an arrest the constable or other person making the same shall actually touch or confine the body of the person to be arrested, unless there be a submission to the custody by word or action.

(2) If such person forcibly resists the endeavour to arrest him, or attempts to evade the arrest, such constable or other person may use sufficient force to effect the arrest but no more.

(3) Nothing in this section gives a right to cause the death of any person except when a constable or private person is legally attempting to arrest the person killed, upon a charge or treason, felony or inflicting a dangerous wound and the arrest of such person cannot otherwise be accomplished.

(4) If a constable is assaulted or obstructed when making any arrest, it shall be the duty of any private person, on whom he may call for aid, to go to his assistance.

5. If any person acting under a warrant of arrest, or any constable having authority to arrest, has reason to believe that the person to be arrested has entered into or is within any place, the person residing in or being in charge of such place, shall on demand of the person so acting or such constable, allow him free entry thereto and afford all reasonable facilities for a search therein.

6. If entry to such a place cannot be effected under section 5 it shall be lawful in any such case as is therein mentioned for such person acting under a warrant of arrest or such person acting under a warrant of arrest or such constable having authority to arrest to enter such place and search therein and, in order to effect entrance into such place, to break open any outer or inner door or window of any house or place, whether that of the person to be arrested or of any other person, if after notification of his authority and purpose, and demand of admittance duly made, he cannot otherwise obtain admittance.

7. Any constable or other person authorised to make an arrest may break out of any house or place in order to liberate himself or any other person who, having lawfully entered for the purpose of making an arrest, is detained therein.

8. The person arrested shall not be subjected to more restraint than is necessary to prevent his escape.

9. (1) The constable or other person making an arrest may take from the person arrested any offensive weapons which he has about his person, or anything found in his possession likely to afford material evidence for the prosecution in respect of the offensive weapons which he has about his person, or anything found in his possession likely to afford material evidence for the prosecution in respect of the offence for which the offender has been arrested. Anything so taken from an arrested person shall be produced before the Court.

(2) The constable or other person who arrests any person on a charge of an offence against the person of another may cause the person arrested by him to be examined by a medical practitioner:
Provided that any person so examined shall have the right to require that such examination shall be made in the presence of his own medical practitioner or of some other person selected by him.

10. Subject to the provisions of section 80, all arrested persons shall be brought as soon as possible before the Court having jurisdiction in the case, or the Court within the local limits of whose jurisdiction any such person was arrested.

PART I – GENERAL PROVISIONS PROCEDURE

PROCESS AGAINST THE ACCUSED OR DEFENDANT

23. If the person issued with a summons does not appear at the time and place appointed in and by the summons and his personal attendance has not been dispensed with under section 21 the Court may issue a warrant to arrest him and cause him to be brought before such court.

24. (1) Every warrant of arrest shall be under the hand of the Judge, Magistrate or Justice of the Peace issuing it.

(2) Every such warrant shall state shortly the offence with which the person against whom it is issued is charged and shall name or otherwise describe such person and it shall order the person or persons to whom it is directed to apprehend the person against whom it is issued and bring him before the Court issuing the warrant or before some other court having jurisdiction in the case to answer to the charge therein mentioned and to be further dealt with according to law.

PART I – GENERAL PROVISIONS PROCEDURE

PROCESS AGAINST THE ACCUSED OR DEFENDANT

35. A search warrant issued by a Court, Judge, Magistrate or Justice of the Peace in the Western Area, or by a Court, Judge, Magistrate or Justice of the Peace in any district in the Provinces, for the discovery of any property stolen or otherwise unlawfully obtained may be executed in any part of the Western Area, or in any district of the Provinces, although such part or district is outside the jurisdiction of the Court, Judge, Magistrate or Justice of the Peace issuing the said warrant, and in every case in which any property alleged to have been stolen or otherwise unlawfully obtained is seized in pursuance of this section, it shall be lawful for the constable or other person to whom the search warrant was directed, without any special authority in that behalf, to arrest the person on whose premises the property was at the time of seizure, or the person from whom it was taken, if other than the person on whose premises it was, and take him before the Court within whose jurisdiction the seizure was made, to account for his possession of such property ; and in every such case the Court before whom such person shall be brought shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine the matter notwithstanding that the alleged offence was committed outside the jurisdiction of the said Court.

Rome Statute

Article 88 Availability of procedures under national law

States Parties shall ensure that there are procedures available under their national law for all of the forms of cooperation which are specified under this Part.

Article 89 Surrender of persons to the Court

1. The Court may transmit a request for the arrest and surrender of a person, together with the material supporting the request outlined in article 91, to any State on the territory of which that person may be found and shall request the cooperation of that State in the arrest and surrender of such a person. States Parties shall, in accordance with the provisions of this Part and the procedure under their national law, comply with requests for arrest and surrender.

Article 93 Other forms of cooperation

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.

Article 99 Execution of requests under articles 93 and 96

1. Requests for assistance shall be executed in accordance with the relevant procedure under the law of the requested State and, unless prohibited by such law, in the manner specified in the request, including following any procedure outlined therein or permitting persons specified in the request to be present at and assist in the execution process.