Forfeiture of assets - authority - ICC proceedings

Portugal

Law No. 144/99, of 31 August, on International Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters

Part I
General

CHAPTER II
General rules of procedure


Article 28
Handing over of property or money

1. Where the request for co-operation concerns, exclusively or not, the handing over of property or money, these may be handed over only if they are not required for the purpose of producing evidence in connection with a criminal offence over which the Portuguese authorities have jurisdiction.

2. Handing over may be delayed; property and money may be handed over on condition that they are returned.

3. Any rights which bona fide third parties or legitimate owners or possessors may have over the property shall be preserved; any rights of the State that might result from the property being declared lost in its favour shall also be preserved.

4. If there is opposition to the handing over, property or money shall be handed over only subsequent to a final decision of the competent authority.

5. Where extradition is requested, the handing over as mentioned in paragraph 1 above may be executed even where extradition does not take place, notable because of the escape or death of the person sought.

Part VI
Mutual legal assistance in criminal matters

CHAPTER III
Special forms of international assistance


Article 160
Proceeds, objects and instrumentalities

1. At the request of a competent foreign authority, steps may be taken in order to trace the proceedings of an allegedly committed offence; the results thereof shall be communicated to the requesting authority.

2. The foreign authority must state the grounds on which it deems that such proceedings might be located in Portugal.

3. The Portuguese authority shall take such steps as are necessary in order to enforce any decision of a foreign court imposing the confiscation of proceeds from an offence; the provisions of Part IV shall apply mutatis mutandis.

4. When the foreign authority communicates its intention to request the enforcement of any decision as mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the Portuguese authority may take such steps as are consistent with the Portuguese law in order to prevent any dealing in, transfer or disposal of property which at a later stage shall be, or may be, the subject of that decision.

5. The provisions of this Article also apply to objects and instrumentalities of an offence.

Part I
General

CHAPTER II
General rules of procedure

Article 28
Handing over of property or money

1. Where the request for co-operation concerns, exclusively or not, the handing over of property or money, these may be handed over only if they are not required for the purpose of producing evidence in connection with a criminal offence over which the Portuguese authorities have jurisdiction.

2. Handing over may be delayed; property and money may be handed over on condition that they are returned.

3. Any rights which bona fide third parties or legitimate owners or possessors may have over the property shall be preserved; any rights of the State that might result from the property being declared lost in its favour shall also be preserved.

4. If there is opposition to the handing over, property or money shall be handed over only subsequent to a final decision of the competent authority.

5. Where extradition is requested, the handing over as mentioned in paragraph 1 above may be executed even where extradition does not take place, notable because of the escape or death of the person sought.

Part VI
Mutual legal assistance in criminal matters

CHAPTER III
Special forms of international assistance

Article 160
Proceeds, objects and instrumentalities

1. At the request of a competent foreign authority, steps may be taken in order to trace the proceedings of an allegedly committed offence; the results thereof shall be communicated to the requesting authority.

2. The foreign authority must state the grounds on which it deems that such proceedings might be located in Portugal.

3. The Portuguese authority shall take such steps as are necessary in order to enforce any decision of a foreign court imposing the confiscation of proceeds from an offence; the provisions of Part IV shall apply mutatis mutandis.

4. When the foreign authority communicates its intention to request the enforcement of any decision as mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the Portuguese authority may take such steps as are consistent with the Portuguese law in order to prevent any dealing in, transfer or disposal of property which at a later stage shall be, or may be, the subject of that decision.

5. The provisions of this Article also apply to objects and instrumentalities of an offence.

Rome Statute

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:

(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