Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Act 2008

Confiscation co-operation order.

51.— (1) The Central Authority, on receipt of an external confiscation order and accompanying documents, may cause an application to be made to the High Court for an order (a “confiscation co-operation order”) for the confiscation of the property in the State to which the external confiscation order relates.

(2) The application shall be accompanied by the request, the accompanying documents and any other related documents or by copies thereof.

(3) On the application the Court may, subject to subsection (4), make a confiscation co-operation order.

(4) The Court may not make a confiscation co-operation order unless—

(a) it is satisfied—

(i) that the application is made with the consent of the Minister,

(ii) as to the matters mentioned in section 50 (2)(b),

(iii) that the conduct which resulted in the making of the external confiscation order constitutes criminal conduct, and

(iv) that the making of the order is otherwise in accordance with the relevant international instrument,

and

(b) an opportunity has been given to any person claiming to own, or have an interest in, the property subject to the external confiscation order to show cause why the order should not be made.

(5) The Court—

(a) may vary or discharge a confiscation co-operation order on the application of any person claiming to have an interest in the property concerned or to be otherwise affected by the order and may in that connection consult the court which made the external confiscation order, and

(b) shall—

(i) vary a confiscation co-operation order in accordance with any variation made in the external confiscation order, and

(ii) if satisfied that the external confiscation order has been revoked or has been satisfied in accordance with the law of the designated state concerned, discharge it.