Arrest

Samoa

Crimes Act 2013

PART IV
JUSTIFICATION OR EXCUSE IN THE ARREST OF ANY PERSON


22. Execution of warrant-

(1) A person duly authorised to execute a warrant to arrest who in reliance on such a warrant, thereupon arrests a person, believing in good faith and on reasonable and probable grounds that he or she is the person named in the warrant, shall be protected from criminal responsibility to the same extent and subject to the same provisions as if the person arrested had been the person named in the warrant.

(2) A person called on to assist the person making such arrest, and believing that the person in whose arrest he or she is called on to assist is the person for whose arrest the warrant is issued, and every person who is required to receive and detain the person arrested, shall be protected from criminal responsibility to the same extent and subject to the same provisions as if the person arrested had been the person named in the warrant.


23. Arrest by a constable pursuant to statutory powers -

A constable is justified in arresting any person without warrant in accordance with the provisions of this Act or in accordance with any other enactment conferring on him or her a power so to arrest.


24. Arrest by a constable of person believed to have committed an offence -

Where under any enactment any constable has power to arrest without warrant any person who has committed an offence, the constable is justified in arresting without warrant any person whom he or she believes, on reasonable grounds, to have committed that offence, whether or not the offence has in fact been committed, and whether or not the arrested person committed it.


25. Arrest by other officers or persons pursuant to statutory powers -

An officer or other persons, not being a constable, who is authorised by any enactment to arrest any
person without warrant is justified in so arresting any person in accordance with the provisions of that enactment.


26. Persons assisting constable or officer in arrest-

(1) A person called upon by a constable to assist him or her in the arrest of any person believed or suspected to have committed any offence is justified in assisting unless the person knows that there is no reasonable ground for the belief or suspicion.

(2) Where in any enactment it is provided that any officer or person, not being a constable, may call upon any other person to assist him or her in arresting without warrant anyone who has committed or is found committing any offence, a person so called upon is justified in assisting unless the person knows that there is no reasonable ground for believing that the person to be arrested has committed the offence.


27. Arrest of persons found committing certain crimes -

A person is justified in arresting without warrant:

(a) any person whom the person finds committing any offence against this Act for which the offence is punishable by imprisonment; or
(b) any person whom the person finds by night committing any offence against this Act.


28. Arrest of person believed to be committing crime by night -

A person is protected from criminal responsibility for arresting without warrant any person whom he or she finds by night in circumstances affording reasonable grounds for believing that that person is committing an offence against this Act.


29. Arrest after commission of certain crimes -

Where any offence against this Act has been committed, a Constable who believes, on reasonable grounds, that any person has committed that offence is protected from criminal responsibility for arresting that person without warrant, whether or not that person committed the offence.


30. Arrest during flight-

(1) A person is protected from criminal responsibility for arresting without warrant any person whom he or she believes, on reasonable grounds, to have committed an offence against this Act, and to be escaping from and to be freshly pursued by any one whom he or she believes, on reasonable grounds, to have lawful authority to arrest that person for the offence.

(2) This section shall apply whether or not the offence has in fact been committed, and whether or not the arrested person committed it.


31. Force used in executing process -

Where any person is justified, or protected from criminal responsibility, in executing or assisting to execute any sentence, warrant, or process, or in making or assisting to make any arrest, that justification or protection shall extend and apply to the use by him or her of such force as may be necessary to overcome any force used in resisting such execution or arrest, unless the sentence, warrant, or process can be executed or the arrest made by reasonable means in a less violent manner:

PROVIDED that, except in the case of a constable or a person called upon by a constable to assist him or her, this section shall not apply where the force used is intended or likely to cause death or grievous bodily harm.


32. Preventing escape or rescue-

(1) Where any person is lawfully authorised to arrest or to assist in arresting any other person, or is justified in or protected from criminal responsibility for arresting or assisting to arrest any other person, that authority, justification, or protection, as the case may be, shall extend and apply to the use of such force as may be necessary:

(a) to prevent the escape of that other person if he or she attempts to avoid arrest; or
(b) to prevent the escape or rescue of that other person after his or her arrest,
unless in any such case the escape or rescue can be prevented by reasonable means in a less violent manner:

PROVIDED that, except in the case of a constable or a person called upon by a constable to assist him or her, this subsection shall not apply where the force used is intended or likely to cause death or grievous bodily harm.

(2) Where any prisoner of a prison is attempting to escape from lawful custody, or is fleeing after having escaped therefrom, every constable, and every person called upon by a constable to assist him or her, is justified in using such force as may be necessary to prevent the escape of or to recapture the prisoner, unless in any case the escape can be prevented or the recapture effected by reasonable means in a less violent manner.

International Criminal Court Act 2007, No.26

PART IV
ARREST AND SURRENDER OF PERSON TO ICC


36. Request for arrest and surrender -

(1) Subject to sections 38 and 39, when the Minister receives a request for arrest and surrender of a person alleged to have committed a crime within the jurisdiction of the ICC or on whom a judgment of conviction has been imposed by the ICC the Minister shall, if satisfied that the request is supported by the information and documents required by article 91 of the Statute –
(a) transmit the request and any supporting documents to a Judge; and
(b) notify the Attorney General.

(2) Upon receipt of a request under subsection (1)(a) a Judge shall –
(a) if the request is accompanied by a warrant of arrest issued by the ICC, endorse the warrant for execution by a police officer in any part of Samoa; or
(b) if the request is accompanied by a judgment of conviction of the ICC, issue a warrant for the arrest of the person to whom the judgment relates, for execution by a police officer in any part of Samoa.


37. Rights of arrested person -

(1) A person arrested under a warrant obtained in accordance with section 36 or pursuant to a direction under section 42 shall be brought before a Judge within 48 hours.

(2) The Judge may, of the Judge’s own motion or at the request of the person, determine –
(a) whether the person was lawfully arrested in accordance with the warrant or the direction; and
(b) whether the person’s rights have been respected in the course of the arrest.

(3) In making a determination under subsection (2) the Judge shall apply the principles applicable to judicial review.

(4) If the Judge determines that –
(a) the person was not lawfully arrested; or
(b) the person’s rights were not respected, the Judge shall make a declaration to that effect with any explanation required but may not grant any other form of relief.

PART IV
ARREST AND SURRENDER OF PERSON TO ICC

42. Provisional arrest-(1) Where the Minister receives a request from the ICC for provisional arrest of a person under article 92 of the Statute, the Minister shall, if satisfied that the request is supported by the information required by paragraph (2) of article 92 of the Statute, transmit the request and any supporting documents to the Commissioner of Police with a direction for the arrest of the person.
(2) The Minister shall transmit a copy of the direction to the Attorney General.
(3) Where the Commissioner of Police receives a direction from the Minister under subsection (1), the Commissioner shall instruct the police to carry out the direction.
(4) The Commissioner of Police shall, after carrying out the direction, notify the Minister and the Attorney General that the direction has been carried out.
(5) Where a person has been provisionally arrested under this section, and the Minister receives the formal request for arrest and surrender as provided for in article 91 of the Statute, the Minister shall immediately send a notice to the Judge and proceed with the transmission of the request in accordance with section 36.
(6) The Judge shall send any declaration made under subsection (4) to the Minister, and the Minister shall transmit it to the ICC.

43. Person arrested on a provisional warrant-(1) Where a person has been provisionally arrested under section 42, the Judge shall not proceed under section 45 until –
(a) the Judge has received a notice from the Minister that the request for surrender and supporting documents required under article 92 of the Statute have been received by the Minister; and
(b) the relevant documents have been transmitted to the Judge by the Minister under section 42(5).
(2) Pending the receipt of the notice and documents under subsection (1), the Judge may adjourn the proceedings from time to time.
(3) If the Judge has not received the notice specified in subsection (1)(a) within 60 days of the date of the provisional arrest of the person, the Judge shall release the person from custody or on bail unless satisfied that the period for submission of the notice should be extended in the interests of justice.
(4) Notwithstanding subsection (4), a person who is provisionally arrested may consent to surrender before the expiration of 60 days, in which case, the Minister shall proceed to surrender the person to the Court as soon as possible.
(5) The release of a person under subsection (3) shall be without prejudice to any subsequent proceedings that may be brought for the arrest and surrender of the person to the ICC whether for the same facts and offence or not.

44. Application for bail-(1) A person brought before a Judge under section 42 may make an application for bail.
(2) Where an application for bail is made under subsection (1), the Judge shall adjourn the hearing of the application and notify the Minister.
(3) The Minister shall, on receipt of a notification under subsection (2), consult immediately with the ICC to obtain any recommendations from the Pre-Trial Chamber under article 59(5) of the Statute, and shall convey those recommendations to the Judge.
(4) The Judge shall give full consideration to any recommendations conveyed to the Judge under subsection (3) before making a decision on the application for bail.
(5) Where no recommendations are received from the ICC within seven days of the Minister being notified of the application for bail, the Judge may proceed to hear the application.
(6) The Judge shall not release a person brought before the Judge under section 42 on bail, unless the Judge is satisfied that, having regard to the crimes alleged to have been committed by that person, there are urgent and exceptional circumstances that justify the persons release on bail and that there are sufficient safeguards to ensure that Samoa will be able to fulfill its obligations under the Statute to surrender such person to the ICC.

Rome Statute

Article 87 Requests for cooperation: general provisions

1.

(a) The Court shall have the authority to make requests to States Parties for cooperation. The requests shall be transmitted through the diplomatic channel or any other appropriate channel as may be designated by each State Party upon ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. Subsequent changes to the designation shall be made by each State Party in accordance with the Rules of Procedure and Evidence.

(b) When appropriate, without prejudice to the provisions of subparagraph (a), requests may also be transmitted through the International Criminal Police Organization or any appropriate regional organization.

2. Requests for cooperation and any documents supporting the request shall either be in or be accompanied by a translation into an official language of the requested State or one of the working languages of the Court, in accordance with the choice made by that State upon ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. Subsequent changes to this choice shall be made in accordance with the Rules of Procedure and Evidence.

3. The requested State shall keep confidential a request for cooperation and any documents supporting the request, except to the extent that the disclosure is necessary for execution of the request.

4. In relation to any request for assistance presented under this Part, the Court may take such measures, including measures related to the protection of information, as may be necessary to ensure the safety or physical or psychological well-being of any victims, potential witnesses and their families. The Court may request that any information that is made available under this Part shall be provided and handled in a manner that protects the safety and physical or psychological well-being of any victims, potential witnesses and their families.

5.

(a) The Court may invite any State not party to this Statute to provide assistance under this Part on the basis of an ad hoc arrangement, an agreement with such State or any other appropriate basis.

(b) Where a State not party to this Statute, which has entered into an ad hoc arrangement or an agreement with the Court, fails to cooperate with requests pursuant to any such arrangement or agreement, the Court may so inform the Assembly of States Parties or, where the Security Council referred the matter to the Court, the Security Council.

6. The Court may ask any intergovernmental organization to provide information or documents. The Court may also ask for other forms of cooperation and assistance which may be agreed upon with such an organization and which are in accordance with its competence or mandate.

7. Where a State Party fails to comply with a request to cooperate by the Court contrary to the provisions of this Statute, thereby preventing the Court from exercising its functions and powers under this Statute, the Court may make a finding to that effect and refer the matter to the Assembly of States Parties or, where the Security Council referred the matter to the Court, to the Security Council.

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.

2. Where the person sought for surrender brings a challenge before a national court on the basis of the principle of ne bis in idem as provided in article 20, the requested State shall immediately consult with the Court to determine if there has been a relevant ruling on admissibility. If the case is admissible, the requested State shall proceed with the execution of the request. If an admissibility ruling is pending, the requested State may postpone the execution of the request for surrender of the person until the Court makes a determination on admissibility.

3.

(a) A State Party shall authorize, in accordance with its national procedural law, transportation through its territory of a person being surrendered to the Court by another State, except where transit through that State would impede or delay the surrender.

(b) A request by the Court for transit shall be transmitted in accordance with article 87. The request for transit shall contain:

(i) A description of the person being transported;

(ii) A brief statement of the facts of the case and their legal characterization; and

(iii) The warrant for arrest and surrender;

(c) A person being transported shall be detained in custody during the period of transit;

(d) No authorization is required if the person is transported by air and no landing is scheduled on the territory of the transit State;

(e) If an unscheduled landing occurs on the territory of the transit State, that State may require a request for transit from the Court as provided for in subparagraph (b). The transit State shall detain the person being transported until the request for transit is received and the transit is effected, provided that detention for purposes of this subparagraph may not be extended beyond 96 hours from the unscheduled landing unless the request is received within that time.

4. If the person sought is being proceeded against or is serving a sentence in the requested State for a crime different from that for which surrender to the Court is sought, the requested State, after making its decision to grant the request, shall consult with the Court.

Article 90 Competing requests

1. A State Party which receives a request from the Court for the surrender of a person under article 89 shall, if it also receives a request from any other State for the extradition of the same person for the same conduct which forms the basis of the crime for which the Court seeks the person's surrender, notify the Court and the requesting State of that fact.

2. Where the requesting State is a State Party, the requested State shall give priority to the request from the Court if:

(a) The Court has, pursuant to article 18 or 19, made a determination that the case in respect of which surrender is sought is admissible and that determination takes into account the investigation or prosecution conducted by the requesting State in respect of its request for extradition; or

(b) The Court makes the determination described in subparagraph (a) pursuant to the requested State's notification under paragraph 1.

3. Where a determination under paragraph 2 (a) has not been made, the requested State may, at its discretion, pending the determination of the Court under paragraph 2 (b), proceed to deal with the request for extradition from the requesting State but shall not extradite the person until the Court has determined that the case is inadmissible. The Court's determination shall be made on an expedited basis.

4. If the requesting State is a State not Party to this Statute the requested State, if it is not under an international obligation to extradite the person to the requesting State, shall give priority to the request for surrender from the Court, if the Court has determined that the case is admissible.

5. Where a case under paragraph 4 has not been determined to be admissible by the Court, the requested State may, at its discretion, proceed to deal with the request for extradition from the requesting State.

6. In cases where paragraph 4 applies except that the requested State is under an existing international obligation to extradite the person to the requesting State not Party to this Statute, the requested State shall determine whether to surrender the person to the Court or extradite the person to the requesting State. In making its decision, the requested State shall consider all the relevant factors, including but not limited to:

(a) The respective dates of the requests;

(b) The interests of the requesting State including, where relevant, whether the crime was committed in its territory and the nationality of the victims and of the person sought; and

(c) The possibility of subsequent surrender between the Court and the requesting State.

7. Where a State Party which receives a request from the Court for the surrender of a person also receives a request from any State for the extradition of the same person for conduct other than that which constitutes the crime for which the Court seeks the person's surrender:

(a) The requested State shall, if it is not under an existing international obligation to extradite the person to the requesting State, give priority to the request from the Court;

(b) The requested State shall, if it is under an existing international obligation to extradite the person to the requesting State, determine whether to surrender the person to the Court or to extradite the person to the requesting State. In making its decision, the requested State shall consider all the relevant factors, including but not limited to those set out in paragraph 6, but shall give special consideration to the relative nature and gravity of the conduct in question.

Where pursuant to a notification under this article, the Court has determined a case to be inadmissible, and subsequently extradition to the requesting State is refused, the requested State shall notify the Court of this decision.

Article 91 Contents of request for arrest and surrender

1. A request for arrest and surrender shall be made in writing. In urgent cases, a request may be made by any medium capable of delivering a written record, provided that the request shall be confirmed through the channel provided for in article 87, paragraph 1 (a).

2. In the case of a request for the arrest and surrender of a person for whom a warrant of arrest has been issued by the Pre-Trial Chamber under article 58, the request shall contain or be supported by:

(a) Information describing the person sought, sufficient to identify the person, and information as to that person's probable location;

(b) A copy of the warrant of arrest; and

(c) Such documents, statements or information as may be necessary to meet the requirements for the surrender process in the requested State, except that those requirements should not be more burdensome than those applicable to requests for extradition pursuant to treaties or arrangements between the requested State and other States and should, if possible, be less burdensome, taking into account the distinct nature of the Court.

3. In the case of a request for the arrest and surrender of a person already convicted, the request shall contain or be supported by:

(a) A copy of any warrant of arrest for that person;

(b) A copy of the judgement of conviction;

(c) Information to demonstrate that the person sought is the one referred to in the judgement of conviction; and

(d) If the person sought has been sentenced, a copy of the sentence imposed and, in the case of a sentence for imprisonment, a statement of any time already served and the time remaining to be served.

4. Upon the request of the Court, a State Party shall consult with the Court, either generally or with respect to a specific matter, regarding any requirements under its national law that may apply under paragraph 2 (c). During the consultations, the State Party shall advise the Court of the specific requirements of its national law.

Article 92 Provisional arrest

1. In urgent cases, the Court may request the provisional arrest of the person sought, pending presentation of the request for surrender and the documents supporting the request as specified in article 91.

2. The request for provisional arrest shall be made by any medium capable of delivering a written record and shall contain:

(a) Information describing the person sought, sufficient to identify the person, and information as to that person's probable location;

(b) A concise statement of the crimes for which the person's arrest is sought and of the facts which are alleged to constitute those crimes, including, where possible, the date and location of the crime;

(c) A statement of the existence of a warrant of arrest or a judgement of conviction against the person sought; and

(d) A statement that a request for surrender of the person sought will follow.

3. A person who is provisionally arrested may be released from custody if the requested State has not received the request for surrender and the documents supporting the request as specified in article 91 within the time limits specified in the Rules of Procedure and Evidence. However, the person may consent to surrender before the expiration of this period if permitted by the law of the requested State. In such a case, the requested State shall proceed to surrender the person to the Court as soon as possible.

4. The fact that the person sought has been released from custody pursuant to paragraph 3 shall not prejudice the subsequent arrest and surrender of that person if the request for surrender and the documents supporting the request are delivered at a later date.