PART V – CO-OPERATION AND JUDICIAL ASSISTANCE

21. Areas of co-operation and judicial assistance

(1)

(b) the taking of evidence, including testimony under oath, and the production of evidence, including expert opinions and reports necessary to the International Criminal Court

PART V - CO-OPERATION AND JUDICIAL ASSISTANCE

22. Request for assistance in obtaining evidence

(1) A request by the International Criminal Court for assistance in obtaining evidence in Mauritius for use in the International Criminal Court shall be submitted in writing to the Attorney-General.

(2) On receipt of such request, the Attorney-General shall satisfy himself that –
(a) proceedings have been instituted in the International Criminal Court; or
(b) there are reasonable grounds for believing that an international crime within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court has been committed; or
(c) an investigation in respect of the alleged crime is being conducted by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court .

(3) For the purposes of subsection (2), the Attorney-General may rely on a certificate issued by a Judge of the International Criminal Court or the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, confirming one or more of the requirements referred to in subsection (2).

(4) Where the Attorney-General is satisfied that one or more of the requirements referred to in subsection (2) have been complied with, he shall submit the request referred to in subsection (1) to the Magistrate within whose area of jurisdiction the witness resides or is believed to be present, as well as to the Director of Public Prosecutions

PART V - CO-OPERATION AND JUDICIAL ASSISTANCE

23. Taking or production of evidence

(1) Where, in order to comply with a request, it is necessary for the evidence received by a Magistrate under Part IV to be verified in any manner, the Magistrate shall specify the nature of the verification required .

(2) A Magistrate may, where he thinks necessary in order to protect –
(a) victims, witnesses, or a person alleged to have committed an international crime; or
(b) confidential or sensitive information, direct that the public be excluded from the Court .

(3) The Magistrate shall ensure that a register is kept of the proceedings that indicates –
(a) which persons with an interest in the matter were present;
(b) which of those persons were represented and by whom; and
(c) whether any of those persons was denied the opportunity of cross- examining a witness as to any part of his testimony.

(4) The register shall not be open to inspection except as authorised by the Attorney-General or with the leave of the Magistrate.

(5) A copy of the register of proceedings shall be sent to the Attorney-General for transmission to the International Criminal Court.

PART V - CO-OPERATION AND JUDICIAL ASSISTANCE

24. Examination of witnesses

(2) On the appearance of that person, the Magistrate shall administer an oath to him and take the evidence of that person.

PART III - FORMS OF MUTUAL ASSISTANCE

6. Procedure for an evidence-gathering order or a search warrant

(1) Notwithstanding any other enactment, where the Central Authority grants a request by a foreign State, or an international criminal tribunal, to obtain evidence or a search warrant in Mauritius, the Central Authority may apply to a Judge in Chambers for -

(a) an evidence-gathering order ; or
(b) a search warrant for the search of a person or premises, and removal or seizure of any document or article.

PART III - FORMS OF MUTUAL ASSISTANCE

7. Foreign request for a virtual evidence-gathering order

(1) Where the Central Authority grants a request by a foreign State, or an international criminal tribunal, to order a person to give evidence by means of technology that permits the virtual presence of the person in the territory over which the foreign State has jurisdiction or in the International Criminal Tribunal, it may apply to a Judge in Chambers for an order for the taking of the virtual evidence of the person.

PART III - FORMS OF MUTUAL ASSISTANCE

16. Enforcement of request for the location of the proceeds of crime

A Judge in Chambers may, on good cause shown by the Central Authority that a person is failing to comply with, is delaying or is otherwise obstructing an order made in accordance with section 15, order the Central Authority, or an officer authorised by the Central Authority, to enter and search the premises specified in the order and remove any document, material or other thing therein for the purposes of executing such order.