CHAPTER 4. ENFORCEMENT OF SENTENCES
ยง 1. General
Section 56
1. No pardon may be requested or granted in respect of sentences of imprisonment which have been imposed by the ICC for one or more of the crimes referred to in article 5 of the Statute and which are being enforced in the Netherlands. A request for reduction or remission of such a sentence shall be immediately referred by Our Minister to the ICC.
2. At the request of the ICC, Our Minister shall inform the ICC of his opinion on the review of a sentence as referred to in subsection 1, in accordance with article 110 of the Statute. For this purpose, Our Minister may request the advice from The Hague District Court and may request from third parties all information which he considers necessary.
3. A pardon may be requested and granted, in accordance with article 558 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, in respect of sentences of imprisonment which have been imposed by the ICC for offences against the administration of justice of the ICC as referred to in article 70, paragraph 1, of the Statute and in respect of other sentences imposed by the ICC if enforcement takes place in the Netherlands. Before a decision is taken on the granting of a pardon, Our Minister shall consult with the ICC in order to learn its views.
1. Subject to conditions which a State may have specified in accordance with article 103, paragraph 1 (b), the sentence of imprisonment shall be binding on the States Parties, which shall in no case modify it.
2. The Court alone shall have the right to decide any application for appeal and revision. The State of enforcement shall not impede the making of any such application by a sentenced person.
1. The State of enforcement shall not release the person before expiry of the sentence pronounced by the Court.
2. The Court alone shall have the right to decide any reduction of sentence, and shall rule on the matter after having heard the person.
3. When the person has served two thirds of the sentence, or 25 years in the case of life imprisonment, the Court shall review the sentence to determine whether it should be reduced. Such a review shall not be conducted before that time.
4. In its review under paragraph 3, the Court may reduce the sentence if it finds that one or more of the following factors are present:
(a) The early and continuing willingness of the person to cooperate with the Court in its investigations and prosecutions;
(b) The voluntary assistance of the person in enabling the enforcement of the judgements and orders of the Court in other cases, and in particular providing assistance in locating assets subject to orders of fine, forfeiture or reparation which may be used for the benefit of victims; or
(c) Other factors establishing a clear and significant change of circumstances sufficient to justify the reduction of sentence, as provided in the Rules of Procedure and Evidence.
5. If the Court determines in its initial review under paragraph 3 that it is not appropriate to reduce the sentence, it shall thereafter review the question of reduction of sentence at such intervals and applying such criteria as provided for in the Rules of Procedure and Evidence.