PART III – MAKING AND EXECUTION OF LEGAL ASSISTANCE REQUESTS
8. Incoming requests for legal assistance
(1) A request from a requesting state shall be made in writing to the Central Authority.
(2) Upon receipt of the request under subsection (1), the Central Authority shall as soon as is reasonably practicable acknowledge receipt of such request and forthwith transmit the same to the relevant competent authority.
(3) For the purpose of subsection (1), “in writing” includes e-mail, facsimile or other agreed forms of electronic transmission provided that appropriate levels of security and authentication are put in place.
(4) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Competent Authority shall grant the legal assistance requested in subsection (1) as expeditiously as practicable.
(5) The Competent Authority may seek additional information from a requesting state if it considers necessary.
(6) If the Competent Authority considers that—
(a) the request does not comply with the provisions of this Act; or
(b) in accordance with the provisions of this Act, the request for legal assistance is to be refused in whole or in part; or
(c) the request cannot be complied with, in whole or in part; or
(d) there are circumstances which are likely to cause a significant delay in complying with the request,
it shall promptly inform a requesting state, giving reasons .
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.