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 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

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

(8) (a) Where a person refuses to answer a question or to produce a document or article pursuant to subsection (7)(b) or (c), the Central Authority shall notify the foreign State and request the foreign State to provide a written statement on whether the person’s refusal was well-founded under the law of the foreign State.

(b) A written statement received by the Central Authority from the foreign State in response to a request under paragraph (a) shall be admissible before the Judge in Chambers and, for the purposes of this section, be conclusive evidence that the person’s refusal is, or is not, well-founded under the law of that state.

(c) Any person who, without reasonable excuse, refuses to comply with an order of a Judge in Chambers made under this section or who, having refused to answer a question or to produce a document or article on a ground specified in subsection (7), continues to refuse notwithstanding the admission into evidence of a statement under paragraph (b) to the effect that the refusal is not well-founded, shall be in contempt of court.