Examination of witnesses - national procedures for ICC proceedings

Independent State of Samoa

International Criminal Court Act 2007, No.26

PART V
REQUESTS FOR OTHER TYPES OF ASSISTANCE


60. Assistance in questioning persons -

(1) Where the ICC requests assistance in questioning a person who is being investigated or prosecuted by the ICC, the Minister shall give authority for the request to proceed and transmit the request to the Attorney General if the Minister has reasonable grounds to believe that the person is or may be in Samoa.

(2) Where the Minister authorises and transmits the request under subsection (1), the Attorney General, without delay -

(a) use its best endeavours to undertake the questioning that the ICC has requested;
(b)ensure that the answers to the questions put are recorded in writing and make any other report on the questioning as it considers to be appropriate in the circumstances; and
(c) advise the Minister of the outcome of those endeavours and, if relevant, deliver the record and any report of the questioning to Minister.

(3) A person questioned under this section shall notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any other law, be entitled to all the rights referred to in article 55 (2) of the Statute.

PART V
REQUESTS FOR OTHER TYPES OF ASSISTANCE


69. Assistance in examining places or sites -

(1) Where the ICC requests assistance in examining places or sites in Samoa, the Minister shall give authority for the request to proceed and transmit the request to the Attorney General if the Minister has reasonable grounds to believe that the place or site is located in Samoa.

(2) Where the Minister authorises and transmits the request under subsection (1), the Attorney General -

(a) shall without delay use its best endeavours to undertake the examination of the place or site in the manner that the ICC has requested;
(b) shall make such report on the examination as it considers to be appropriate in the circumstances; and
(c) shall deliver the report of the examination to the Minister; and
(d) may, where appropriate, apply to a Judge for an exhumation order for the exhumation and examination of the remains at a grave site.

(3) An authorisation under this section shall be deemed to authorise the Attorney General to enter a place or site for the purpose of examining it.

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:

(c) The questioning of any person being investigated or prosecuted;