Enforcement of fines

Sierra Leone

The Criminal Procedure Act

PART VI – EXECUTION OF SENTENCES

SENTENCES OTHER THAN CAPITAL

233. (1) When the Court orders money to be paid by a convicted person—

a. for a fine, penalty or the expenses of his prosecution ; or
b. by way of compensation or otherwise under sections 54 or 60.
the Court may either order immediate payment, or allow time for payment, or direct payment to be made by instalments. If such money be directed to be paid by instalments and default is made in the payment of any one instalment, all instalments then remaining unpaid shall become immediately due.

(2) In every such case any sum of money due may be levied on the goods and chattels of the person ordered to pay the same by distress and sale under warrant; and in all cases in which a warrant of distress is issued by the Court under this section the Court may either suffer such person, to go at large or verbally, or by warrant in that behalf, order him to be kept in custody until return shall be made to the warrant of distress.

(3) Such person may pay or tender to the officer having the execution of the warrant the sum therein mentioned together with the amount of the expenses of the distress up to the time of payment or tender, and thereupon the officer shall cease to execute the same.

Rome Statute

Article 109 Enforcement of fines and forfeiture measures

1. States Parties shall give effect to fines or forfeitures ordered by the Court under Part 7, without prejudice to the rights of bona fide third parties, and in accordance with the procedure of their national law.

2. If a State Party is unable to give effect to an order for forfeiture, it shall take measures to recover the value of the proceeds, property or assets ordered by the Court to be forfeited, without prejudice to the rights of bona fide third parties.

3. Property, or the proceeds of the sale of real property or, where appropriate, the sale of other property, which is obtained by a State Party as a result of its enforcement of a judgement of the Court shall be transferred to the Court.