CHAPTER 11:24
MUTUAL ASSISTANCE IN CRIMINAL MATTERS ACT
PART III
REQUESTS BY COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES TO TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO FOR ASSISTANCE
21. Form of request.
(1) Subject to subsection (2), a request for assistance under this Act made by a Commonwealth country shall comply with the conditions set out in the First Schedule.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to an informal request for assistance under this Act where it is transmitted orally, but in the event that such a request is accepted—
(a) it is required to be implemented only to the extent that the Central Authority considers it reasonable;
(b) it is deemed to have been withdrawn if it is not transmitted in writing within such period as the Central Authority considers reasonable.
CHAPTER 11:24
MUTUAL ASSISTANCE IN CRIMINAL MATTERS ACT
PART III
REQUESTS BY COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES TO TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO FOR ASSISTANCE
23. Assistance to country in obtaining evidence.
(1) This section applies where a request is transmitted seeking assistance from Trinidad and Tobago in obtaining, by any of the means stated in section 7, evidence or information relevant to any criminal proceedings in the Commonwealth country making the request, and the request is accepted.
(2) A person, from whom evidence is taken in Trinidad and Tobago pursuant to a request for assistance under this section by a Commonwealth country—
(a) may refuse to answer any question if—
(i) the refusal is based on the laws of Trinidad and Tobago;
(ii) to answer the question would constitute a breach of a privilege recognised by the laws of the Commonwealth country; or
(iii) to answer the question would constitute the commission by the person of an offence against the laws of the Commonwealth country; and
(b) shall not be compelled to give evidence for the purposes of, or in connection with, any criminal proceedings other than those to which the request relates.
(3) Where the request for assistance under this section is for evidence or information relating to the matters set out in section 7(c), copies of such records not publicly available may be produced or examined, only to the extent that they could be produced or examined in accordance with the laws of Trinidad and Tobago.
CHAPTER 11:24
MUTUAL ASSISTANCE IN CRIMINAL MATTERS ACT
PART III
REQUESTS BY COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES TO TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO FOR ASSISTANCE
23. Assistance to country in obtaining evidence.
(1) This section applies where a request is transmitted seeking assistance from Trinidad and Tobago in obtaining, by any of the means stated in section 7, evidence or information relevant to any criminal proceedings in the Commonwealth country making the request, and the request is accepted.
(2) A person, from whom evidence is taken in Trinidad and Tobago pursuant to a request for assistance under this section by a Commonwealth country—
(a) may refuse to answer any question if—
(i) the refusal is based on the laws of Trinidad and Tobago;
(ii) to answer the question would constitute a breach of a privilege recognised by the laws of the Commonwealth country; or
(iii) to answer the question would constitute the commission by the person of an offence against the laws of the Commonwealth country; and
(b) shall not be compelled to give evidence for the purposes of, or in connection with, any criminal proceedings other than those to which the request relates.
(3) Where the request for assistance under this section is for evidence or information relating to the matters set out in section 7(c), copies of such records not publicly available may be produced or examined, only to the extent that they could be produced or examined in accordance with the laws of Trinidad and Tobago.
24. Assistance to country in locating or identifying person.
(1) This section applies where a request is transmitted seeking assistance from Trinidad and Tobago in locating or identifying and locating, a person believed to be in Trinidad and Tobago, who—
(a) is or might be concerned in or affected by; or
(b) could give or provide evidence or assistance relevant to,
any criminal proceedings in the Commonwealth country making the request, and the request is accepted.
(2) Where this section applies, the Central Authority shall use its best endeavours to have the person located or, as the case may be, identified and located, and shall inform the central authority for the Commonwealth country making the request as to the outcome of those endeavours.
25. Assistance to country in obtaining article or thing, by search and seizure.
(1) This section applies where a request is transmitted seeking assistance from Trinidad and Tobago in obtaining, by search and seizure if necessary, an article or thing in Trinidad and Tobago for the purposes of, or in connection with, any criminal proceedings in the Commonwealth country making the request, and the request is accepted.
(2) Where this section applies, the Attorney General shall, unless the article or thing concerned is otherwise lawfully obtained, authorise in writing the Commissioner of Police to apply to a magistrate for a search warrant in respect of the article or thing.
(3) The Commissioner of Police authorised under subsection (2) may apply for the issue of a search warrant to a magistrate having jurisdiction in the area where the article or thing is believed to be located.
(4) The authorisation given to the Commissioner of Police pursuant to subsections (2) and (3) may be executed on his behalf by any member of the Police Service.
(5) The laws of Trinidad and Tobago with respect to—
(a) the making and disposal of an application for a search warrant; and
(b)the execution of a search warrant, apply to an application under subsection (3) and to the execution of any warrant issued pursuant to any such application.
(6) The central authority shall provide such certification as may be required by the central authority for the Commonwealth country making the request concerning the result of any search, the place and circumstances of any seizure, and the subsequent custody of any property seized.
(7) Where this section applies, the Attorney General may, in writing, authorise the removal of any article or thing obtained pursuant to a request, to the Commonwealth country making the request.
26. Assistance to country in arranging attendance of person.
(1) This section applies where a request is transmitted seeking that assistance be given by Trinidad and Tobago for the attendance in the Commonwealth country making the request, of a person in Trinidad and Tobago to give or provide evidence or assistance relevant to any criminal proceedings in that country, and the request is accepted.
(2) Where this section applies, the Central Authority shall—
(a) inquire whether or not the person concerned is willing to attend as requested;
(b) inform the central authority for the Commonwealth country making the request as to the outcome of the inquiry; and
(c) if the person is willing to attend as requested, make appropriate arrangements to facilitate that attendance.
27. Assistance to country in securing transfer of prisoner.
(1) This section applies where a request is transmitted seeking the Central Authority to secure the transfer of a prisoner in Trinidad and Tobago to the Commonwealth country for giving or providing evidence or assistance relevant to any criminal proceedings in that country.
(2) The Central Authority may state, and inform the central authority for the Commonwealth country making the request as to, conditions subject to which a prisoner is to be transferred, including conditions with respect to the custody, release or return of the prisoner.
(3) Any period during which a prisoner is in custody in a Commonwealth country, pursuant to a request, shall be deemed, for all purposes, to be time served in custody in Trinidad and Tobago.
(4) In this section, “prisoner” means a person who is being held in custody pending trial for, or is under imprisonment for, an offence, or is subject to any limitation on his personal liberty pursuant to any written law.
28. Assistance to country in serving documents.
(1) This section applies where a request is transmitted seeking assistance of Trinidad and Tobago in effecting the service of a document on a person or an authority in Trinidad and Tobago for the purposes of, or in connection with, any criminal proceedings in the Commonwealth country making the request, and the request is accepted.
(2) Where this section applies, the Central Authority shall—
(a) use its best endeavours to have the document served—
(i) in accordance with procedures proposed in the request; or
(ii) if those procedures would be unlawful or inappropriate, or no procedures are so proposed, in accordance with the law of Trinidad and Tobago; and
(b) if the document—
(i) is served, transmit to the central authority for the Commonwealth country making the request, a certificate as to service; or
(ii) is not served, transmit to that central authority a statement of the reasons which prevented the service.
(3) A person served with a document under this section who fails to comply with the summons shall not be liable to any penalty or measure of compulsion notwithstanding any contrary statement in the summons.
29. Assistance to country in tracing property, etc.
(1) This section applies where—
(b) property derived or obtained, directly or indirectly, by the person from the commission of that offence is suspected, on reasonable grounds, to be in Trinidad and Tobago;
(c) a request is transmitted seeking assistance by Trinidad and Tobago in identifying, locating or assessing the value or amount of that property; and
(d) the request is accepted.
(2) Where this section applies, the Central Authority—
(a) shall use its best endeavours to give the assistance requested and, in doing so, may invoke such powers and procedures as may be prescribed for the purposes of this section; and
(b) shall inform the Central Authority for the Commonwealth country making the request as to the outcome of those endeavours.
30. Assistance to country in relation to certain orders.
(1) This section applies where—
(a) an order is made in a Commonwealth country—
(i) confiscating or forfeiting property derived or obtained, directly or indirectly, from the commission of a specified serious offence;
(ii) imposing on the person, against whom the order is made, a pecuniary penalty calculated by reference to the value of property so derived or obtained; or
(iii) restraining dealings with property which is, or is suspected on reasonable grounds of being, property so derived or obtained;
(b) property available for the satisfaction of the order of the pecuniary penalty under the order, or to which the order would apply, is suspected on reasonable grounds, to be in Trinidad and Tobago;
(c) a request is transmitted requesting that the order concerned be enforced in accordance with the laws of Trinidad and Tobago and to that end Trinidad and Tobago give appropriate assistance; and
(d) the request is accepted.
(2) Where this section applies, the Attorney General shall cause an application to be made to the Supreme Court in accordance with the Rules of the Supreme Court for the registration of the order concerned.
(3) On application made under subsection (2), the Registrar of the Supreme Court shall register the order if he is satisfied—
(a) that at the time of registration the order is in force in the Commonwealth country; and
(b) that, in the case of an order such as is referred to in subsection (1)(a)(ii)—
(i) the person against whom the order was made appeared in the proceedings or, if he did not do so, that he received notice of the proceedings in sufficient time to enable him to defend them;
(ii) the order is not subject to appeal; and
(iii) that enforcing the order in Trinidad and Tobago would not be contrary to the interest of justice.
(4) Where an order is registered in accordance with this section, a copy of any amendment made to the order, whether before or after registration, may be registered in the same way as the order, and the amendments shall not have effect until they are so registered.
(5) An order or an amendment of an order shall be registered by the registration, in accordance with the Rules of the Supreme Court, of—
(a) a copy of the order or amendment sealed by the Court or other authority making the order or amendment; or
(b) a copy of the order or amendment duly authenticated in accordance with section 35(2)(a).
(6) The Supreme Court shall, after appropriate notice has been given to the Central Authority, cancel the registration of an external confiscation order or an external forfeiture order if—
(a) it appears to the Court that the order has been satisfied whether by payment of the amount due under the order or by the serving of a term of imprisonment by the person against whom the order is made; or
(b) after appropriate notice has been given to the Central Authority, it appears to the Court that the order has ceased to have effect in the Commonwealth country that made the request for assistance.
(7) In this section, “appeal” includes any proceedings by way of discharging or setting aside a judgment or an application for a new trial or stay of execution.
31. Assistance to country in obtaining restraining order.
(1) This section applies where—
(a) the Central Authority of a Commonwealth country transmits to the Central Authority, a certificate to the effect that—
(i) a named person has been, or is likely to be charged with, or has been convicted of, a specified serious offence; and
(ii) an order has been, or is likely to be made that has or, will have, the effect under the laws of that country—
(A) of confiscating or forfeiting property derived or obtained, directly or indirectly, by that person from the commission of the serious offence; or
(B) of imposing on that person a pecuniary penalty calculated by reference to the value of the property so derived or obtained;
(b) property so derived or obtained, or which would be available to satisfy a pecuniary penalty under the confiscation order, or, under such an order if made, is suspected on reasonable grounds to be in Trinidad and Tobago;
(c) a request is transmitted requesting that an order be made, in accordance with the laws of Trinidad and Tobago, restraining dealings with property and that Trinidad and Tobago give the appropriate assistance; and
(d) the request is accepted.
(2) Where this section applies the Attorney General shall cause an application to be made to the Supreme Court in accordance with the Rules of the Supreme Court to secure the making of an appropriate order.
(3) The provisions of subsections (2) to (6) of section 30, shall apply mutatis mutandis with respect to the implementation of a request under this section.
CHAPTER 11:24
MUTUAL ASSISTANCE IN CRIMINAL MATTERS ACT
PART V
CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS AND INVESTIGATIONS
MUTUAL SERVICE OF PROCESS
33A. Service of overseas process in Trinidad and Tobago.
(1) This section shall apply where the Central Authority receives from the central authority of a Commonwealth country or such similar authority of a non-commonwealth country—
(a) a summons or other process requiring a person to appear as a defendant or attend as a witness in criminal proceedings in the Commonwealth or non-commonwealth country ; or
(b) a document issued by a Court exercising criminal jurisdiction in the Commonwealth or non-commonwealth country and recording a decision of the Court made in the exercise of that jurisdiction,
together with a request for that process or document to be served on a person in Trinidad and Tobago.
(2) The Central Authority shall cause the process or document to be served by post or, if the request is for personal service, direct the Commissioner of Police to cause it to be personally served on the person concerned.
(3) Service of a process or document under this section shall not impose any obligation on any person under the law of Trinidad and Tobago to comply with it.
(4) A process or document served under this section shall be accompanied by a notice—
(a) stating the effect of subsection (3);
(b) indicating that the person on whom it is to be served may seek legal advice as to the possible consequence if he fails to comply with the process under the law of the Commonwealth or non-commonwealth country where it was issued; and
(c) indicating that under that law he may not, as a witness, be accorded the same rights and privileges as would be accorded to him in criminal proceedings in Trinidad and Tobago.
(5) Where, under this section, the Commissioner of Police is directed to cause any process or document to be served, he shall use his best endeavours to have it served and immediately transmit to the Central Authority if the process or document is—
(a) served, an affidavit or other certificate of service, stating how and when it was served; or
(b) not served, an affidavit or other certificate of service, stating that fact and the reason.
CHAPTER 11:24
MUTUAL ASSISTANCE IN CRIMINAL MATTERS ACT
PART V
CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS AND INVESTIGATIONS
MUTUAL PROVISION OF EVIDENCE
33D. Trinidad and Tobago evidence for use overseas.
(1) This section shall apply where the Central Authority receives from the central authority of a Commonwealth country or such similar authority of a non-commonwealth country a request for assistance in obtaining evidence in Trinidad and Tobago in connection with criminal proceedings that have been instituted, or a criminal investigation that is being carried on, in that country.
(2) If the Central Authority is satisfied—
(a) that an offence under the law of the country in question has been committed or that there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that such an offence has been committed; and
(b) that proceedings in respect of that offence have been instituted in that country or that an investigation into that offence is being carried on there, it may make a request in writing to the Chief Justice, who may nominate and direct a Court in Trinidad and Tobago to take the evidence to which the request relates.
(3) For the purpose of satisfying itself as to the matters mentioned in subsection (2), the Central Authority shall regard as conclusive a certificate issued by the central authority of the Commonwealth country or such similar authority of the non-commonwealth country, in the country in question as appears to it to be appropriate.
(4) The Third Schedule shall have effect with respect to the proceedings before a nominated Court in pursuance of a direction made under subsection (2), where that Court is a Magistrates’ Court.
33E. Form of testimony.
(1) For the purpose of this Part, evidence may be taken or recorded—
(a) in writing;
(b) on audio tape;
(c) on video tape;
(d) by any other electronic or mechanical means; or
(e) by means of technology that permits the virtual presence of the person in Trinidad and Tobago.
(2) Evidence taken or recorded under this Part may be taken or recorded in camera.
(3) Where evidence is taken or recorded in writing under this Part, it need not be in the form of an affidavit.
(4) Where the evidence has been made by means of video or other means which permits the virtual presence of the person in a Commonwealth or non-commonwealth country that evidence is deemed to have been given in Trinidad and Tobago.
(5) For the avoidance of doubt, a person mentioned in subsection (4) may be cross-examined and re-examined and all the evidence shall form part of the evidence under subsection (1).
(6) The evidence shall be endorsed with, or accompanied by, a certificate to the effect that it is an accurate record of the evidence given and it was taken in a manner specified by the laws of the Commonwealth or non-commonwealth country.
(7) The certificate shall be signed or certified by a Judge, Magistrate or Court officer of the Commonwealth or non-commonwealth country to which the request was made.
(8) Evidence taken or recorded in accordance with this section is admissible in any Court in Trinidad and Tobago without proof of the signature, seal or due authorisation and such evidence shall be effectual as if taken or recorded or done by or before any lawful authority in Trinidad and Tobago.
33F. Admission of foreign evidence.
(1) Where evidence is received upon a request made under this Act and is certified by a Judge, Magistrate or Court officer of the Commonwealth or non-commonwealth country, such evidence is admissible in any Court in Trinidad and Tobago without proof of the due certification and shall be effectual as if recorded or taken by or before any lawful authority in Trinidad and Tobago.
(2) Nothing in this section shall prejudice the admission in evidence of any document that is admissible in evidence apart from this section.
1. Los Estados Partes, de conformidad con lo dispuesto en la presente Parte y con los procedimientos de su derecho interno, deberán cumplir las solicitudes de asistencia formuladas por la Corte en relación con investigaciones o enjuiciamientos penales a fin de:
(a) Identificar y buscar personas u objetos;
(b) Practicar pruebas, incluidos los testimonios bajo juramento, y producir pruebas, incluidos los dictámenes e informes periciales que requiera la Corte;
(c) Interrogar a una persona objeto de investigación o enjuiciamiento;
(d) Notificar documentos, inclusive los documentos judiciales;
(e) Facilitar la comparecencia voluntaria ante la Corte de testigos o expertos;
(f) Proceder al traslado provisional de personas, de conformidad con lo dispuesto en el párrafo 7;
(g) Realizar inspecciones oculares, inclusive la exhumación y el examen de cadáveres y fosas comunes;
(h) Practicar allanamientos y decomisos;
(i) Transmitir registros y documentos, inclusive registros y documentos oficiales;
(j) Proteger a víctimas y testigos y preservar pruebas;
(k) Identificar, determinar el paradero o inmovilizar el producto y los bienes y haberes obtenidos del crimen y de los instrumentos del crimen, o incautarse de ellos, con miras a su decomiso ulterior y sin perjuicio de los derechos de terceros de buena fe; y
(l) Cualquier otro tipo de asistencia no prohibida por la legislación del Estado requerido y destinada a facilitar la investigación y el enjuiciamiento de crímenes de la competencia de la Corte.
2. La Corte podrá dar seguridades a los testigos o expertos que comparezcan ante ella de que no serán enjuiciados o detenidos ni se restringirá su libertad personal por un acto u omisión anterior a su salida del Estado requerido.
3. Cuando la ejecución de una determinada medida de asistencia detallada en una solicitud presentada de conformidad con el párrafo 1 estuviera prohibida en el Estado requerido por un principio fundamental de derecho ya existente y de aplicación general, el Estado requerido celebrará sin demora consultas con la Corte para tratar de resolver la cuestión. En las consultas se debería considerar si se puede prestar la asistencia de otra manera o con sujeción a condiciones. Si, después de celebrar consultas, no se pudiera resolver la cuestión, la Corte modificará la solicitud según sea necesario.
4. El Estado Parte podrá no dar lugar a una solicitud de asistencia, en su totalidad o en parte, de conformidad con el artículo 72 y únicamente si la solicitud se refiere a la presentación de documentos o la divulgación de pruebas que afecten a su seguridad nacional.
5. Antes de denegar una solicitud de asistencia de conformidad con el párrafo 1 l), el Estado requerido considerará si se puede prestar la asistencia con sujeción a ciertas condiciones, o si es posible hacerlo en una fecha posterior o de otra manera. La Corte o el Fiscal, si aceptan la asistencia sujeta a condiciones, tendrán que cumplirlas.
6. Si no se da lugar a una solicitud de asistencia, el Estado Parte requerido deberá comunicar sin demora los motivos a la Corte o al Fiscal.
(a) La Corte podrá solicitar el traslado provisional de un detenido a los fines de su identificación o de que preste testimonio o asistencia de otra índole. El traslado podrá realizarse siempre que:
(i) El detenido dé, libremente y con conocimiento de causa, su consentimiento; y
(ii) El Estado requerido lo acepte, con sujeción a las condiciones que hubiere acordado con la Corte.
(b) La persona trasladada permanecerá detenida. Una vez cumplidos los fines del traslado, la Corte la devolverá sin dilación al Estado requerido.
(a) La Corte velará por la protección del carácter confidencial de los documentos y de la información, salvo en la medida en que éstos sean necesarios para la investigación y las diligencias pedidas en la solicitud.
(b) El Estado requerido podrá, cuando sea necesario, transmitir al Fiscal documentos o información con carácter confidencial. El Fiscal únicamente podrá utilizarlos para reunir nuevas pruebas.
(c) El Estado requerido podrá, de oficio o a solicitud del Fiscal, autorizar la divulgación ulterior de estos documentos o información, los cuales podrán utilizarse como medios de prueba de conformidad con lo dispuesto en las partes V y VI y de conformidad con las Reglas de Procedimiento y Prueba.
(i) El Estado Parte que reciba solicitudes concurrentes de la Corte y de otro Estado de conformidad con una obligación internacional y que no se refieran a la entrega o la extradición, procurará, en consulta con la Corte y el otro Estado, atender ambas solicitudes, de ser necesario postergando o condicionando una de ellas.
(ii) Si esto no fuera posible, la cuestión de las solicitudes concurrentes se resolverá de conformidad con los principios enunciados en el artículo 90.
(b) Sin embargo, cuando la solicitud de la Corte se refiera a información, bienes o personas que estén sometidos al control de un tercer Estado o de una organización internacional en virtud de un acuerdo internacional, el Estado requerido lo comunicará a la Corte y la Corte dirigirá su solicitud al tercer Estado o a la organización internacional.
10. (a) A solicitud de un Estado Parte que lleve a cabo una investigación o sustancie un juicio por una conducta que constituya un crimen de la competencia de la Corte o que constituya un crimen grave con arreglo al derecho interno del Estado requirente, la Corte podrá cooperar con él y prestarle asistencia;
(b)
(i) La asistencia prestada de conformidad con el apartado a) podrá comprender, entre otras cosas:
a. La transmisión de declaraciones, documentos u otros elementos de prueba obtenidos en el curso de una investigación o de un proceso sustanciado por la Corte; y
b. El interrogatorio de una persona detenida por orden de la Corte;
(ii) En el caso de la asistencia prevista en el apartado (b) (i) a.:
a. Si los documentos u otros elementos de prueba se hubieren obtenido con la asistencia de un Estado, su transmisión estará subordinada al consentimiento de dicho Estado;
b. Si las declaraciones, los documentos u otros elementos de prueba hubieren sido proporcionados por un testigo o un perito, su transmisión estará subordinada a lo dispuesto en el artículo 68.
(c) La Corte podrá, de conformidad con el presente párrafo y en las condiciones enunciadas en él, acceder a una solicitud de asistencia presentada por un Estado que no sea parte en el presente Estatuto.