Search and seizure - authority - ICC proceedings

Australia

Australia - International Criminal Court Act No. 41 2002 (2018) EN

Part 4—Other requests by ICC

Division 11—Search and seizure

77 Attorney-General may authorise applications for search warrants
(1) This section applies if:
(a) the ICC makes a request to the Attorney-General compliance with which may involve the issue of a search warrant in relation to evidential material; and
(b) the Attorney-General is satisfied that:
(i) the request relates to an investigation being conducted by the Prosecutor or a proceeding before the ICC; and
(ii) there are reasonable grounds to believe that the material is in Australia.
(2) The Attorney-General is to execute the request by authorising, in writing, a police officer to apply to a magistrate of the State or Territory in which that material is believed to be located for a search warrant.

Part 4—Other requests by ICC

Division 14—Identification, tracing, and freezing or seizure, of proceeds of crimes within the jurisdiction of the ICC

Subdivision F—Search warrants relating to proceeds of crime and evidential material

98 Applying for and issuing search warrants
(1) An authorised officer may apply for a search warrant under the Proceeds of Crime Act in respect of the crime that is the subject of the proceeds request, if authorised to do so by the Attorney-General under section 81A.
(2) Part 3-5 of the Proceeds of Crime Act applies to the application, and to any POCA search warrant issued as a result.
(3) It applies as if:
(a) a reference in that Part to tainted property were a reference to proceeds of the crime that is the subject of the proceeds request; and
(b) a reference in that Part to evidential material were a reference to evidential material as defined in section 4 of this Act for the purposes of this Subdivision; and
(c) the words “or section 100, 101 or 102 of the International Criminal Court Act 2002” were inserted after “this Act” in paragraph 254(1)(a) of the Proceeds of Crime Act; and
(d) paragraphs 227(1)(a), (b), (h) and (ha) and 228(1)(d) and (da) and sections 256 to 262 of the Proceeds of Crime Act were omitted.

99 Contents of POCA search warrants
A POCA search warrant in relation to a crime within the jurisdiction of the ICC must state that the warrant authorises the seizure of property or a thing found by an authorised officer, or a person assisting in relation to the warrant, in the course of the search if the authorised officer or person assisting believes on reasonable grounds that:
(a) the property or thing:
(i) is proceeds of the crime that are not of a kind specified in the warrant; or
(ii) is evidential material relating to the crime that is not of a kind specified in the warrant; or
(iii) is proceeds of, or evidential material relating to, another crime within the jurisdiction of the ICC in relation to which a POCA search warrant is in force; or
(iv) is relevant to a proceeding in the ICC in respect of the crime within the jurisdiction of the ICC; or
(v) will afford evidence as to the commission of an offence against an Australian law; and
(b) the seizure of the property or thing is necessary to prevent its concealment, loss or destruction or its use in committing an offence.

99A Seizure of certain property or things found in the course of search
A POCA search warrant in relation to a crime within the jurisdiction of the ICC authorises an authorised officer, or a person assisting in relation to the warrant, to seize property or a thing found by the authorised officer or person assisting in the course of the search if the authorised officer or person assisting believes on reasonable grounds that:
(a) the property or thing:
(i) is proceeds of the crime that are not of a kind specified in the warrant; or
(ii) is evidential material relating to the crime that is not of a kind specified in the warrant; or
(iii) is proceeds of, or evidential material relating to, another crime within the jurisdiction of the ICC in relation to which a POCA search warrant is in force; or
(iv) is relevant to a proceeding in the ICC in respect of the crime within the jurisdiction of the ICC; or
(v) will afford evidence as to the commission of an offence against an Australian law; and
(b) the seizure of the property or thing is necessary to prevent its concealment, loss or destruction or its use in committing an offence.

Part 6—Search, seizure and powers of arrest

Division 1—Search warrants

111 When search warrants can be issued
(1) A magistrate may issue a warrant to search premises if:
(a) an application has been made to the magistrate under subsection 27(1) or 78(1); and
(b) the magistrate is satisfied by information on oath that there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that there is, or within the applicable period referred to in subsection (3) of this section will be, any evidential material at the premises.
(2) A magistrate may issue a warrant authorising an ordinary search or a frisk search of a person if:
(a) an application has been made to the magistrate under subsection 27(2) or 78(2); and
(b) the magistrate is satisfied by information on oath that there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that the person has, or within the applicable period referred to in subsection (3) of this section will have, any evidential material in his or her possession.
(3) For the purposes of subsections (1) and (2), the applicable period is:
(a) if the application for the warrant is made by telephone, telex, fax or other electronic means, as provided by section 116—48 hours; or
(b) otherwise—72 hours.
(4) If the person applying for the warrant suspects that, in executing the warrant, it will be necessary to use firearms, the person must state that suspicion, and the grounds for that suspicion, in the information.
(5) If the person applying for the warrant is a member or special member of the Australian Federal Police and has, at any time previously, applied for a warrant relating to the same person or premises, the person must state particulars of those applications and their outcome in the information.
(6) A magistrate in New South Wales or the Australian Capital Territory may issue a warrant in relation to premises or a person in the Jervis Bay Territory.
(7) A magistrate in a State may:
(a) issue a warrant in relation to premises or a person in that State; or
(b) issue a warrant in relation to premises or a person in an external Territory; or
(c) issue a warrant in relation to premises or a person in another State or in the Jervis Bay Territory if he or she is satisfied that there are special circumstances that make the issue of the warrant appropriate; or
(d) issue a warrant in relation to a person wherever the person is in Australia if he or she is satisfied that it is not possible to predict where the person may be.

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:

(h) The execution of searches and seizures;