AN ACT to amend thl! DangerQUS Drugs OrdilJ(Jnct! (Cap. /01).

] assent.

(LS.)

UGO M IFSUD BONN1Cl

President

5thluly, 1996

ACf No. XVI of 1996

AN ACT to amend thl! DangerQUS Drugs OrdilJ(Jnct! (Cap. /01).

BE IT ENACTED by the President. by and with the advice and

consent of the Hou!Ie of Representatives, in this present Parliament

assembled, an d by the authority of the same as follows: -

I . This Act may be cited as the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance

(Amendment) Act , 1996 and shall be read and construed as one with

the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, hereinafter referred to as "the principal

Section 22 of t he principal law shall be amended as follows

(a) in subparagrpah (i) of paragraph (a) of subsection (Ie)

thereof, for the words "or paragraph (a) of subsection (I D)" there

shall be substituted the words "or paragraph (a) of subsection (1 D)

or in subsection (IE)";

immediately after subsection (10) thereof there shall

(b)

be added the following new subsection

"( IE) A person shall also be guilty of an offence against

this Ordinance who manufactures, transports or distributes

any equipment or materials knowing that they are to be used

in or for the cultivation, production or manufacture of any

drug contrary to the provisions of this Ordinance and any

such conduct as is prohibited under this subsection shall be

(d)

subsection (3A) thereof shall be amended as follows

for the words from "consists in or refers to the

(i)

selling or dealing in a drug," to "in addition to any other

punishment -" there shall be substituted the words "consists

in any afthe offences referred to in subsection (I) o f section

24A the Cau" shall . in addition to any other punishment, in

its sentence or at any time thereafter, at the request o f the

prosecution -";

(ii) in subparagraph (a) the~f. for the words "where

any immovable property" there shall be substituted the words

"where any immovable property. in Malta or in any place

outside Malta ,";

(iii) in subparagraph (e) thereof, fo r the words "in

respect of any vessel or vehicle" there shall be substituted the

words " in respect of any vessel or vehicle, in Malta or in any

place outside Malta,"; and

(iv) in subparagraph (d) thereof, forthe words "passed

into the hands of third parties," there &hall be substi tuted the

words "passed into the hands of th ird parties, and even if the

said moneys, movable properly or immovable properly are

situated in any place outsi de Malta," ,

Section 24A of the principal law shall be amended as follows

(a) in subsection (I) thereof, forthe words " for the purpose

of searc hing for such material." there shal l be substiluted the words

" for the purpose or searc hing for and Kiting !;uch material ."; and

(b) immediately after subsection (6) thereof there shall be

added the rollowing new subsecti on

"(6A) Where an attac hment order has been made or

applied for , whosoe ver, knowing o r suspecting that the

attachment order has been so made or applied for , makes any

disclosure likely to prejudice the effectiveness ofthesaid order

or any investigation connected wi th it shall be gUilty of an

offence and shall, on conviction, be liable 10 a fine (multa)

not exceeding five thousand Maltese liri or to imprisonment

not exceeding twelve months, or to both suc h fine and

imprisonment

Provided that in proceedings for an offence under this

subsec tion, it shall be a defence for Ihe accused to prove that

he did nOI know or suspect that the disclosure was likely 10

prejudice t he in vestigation or the e ffectiveness of the

attachment order.".

4, lmmediately after section 24A of the principal law there shall AdditioIIoe ......

=::~:z.4C

be added the following new sections

principal"".

L--artikolu 24A tal· ligi principali ghandu jigi emendat kif gej: ~.'

]·lrIlkolu 24'\

tal.lip printipoli_

(a) fi s·subanikol u (I) lieghu , minfl ok iI·kliem "sab iex

jaghmlu tfitlxija ghal dak iI. malerjal." ghandhom jidhlu I·klie m

"sabiex jaghmlu tfittxija ghal u jaqbdu dak il. materjal."; u

(b) min nufih wara s-subartikolu (6) lieghu ghandu j izdied

dan is-subartikolu gdid Ii gej

"(6A) Melajkun sar jew ikun intalab ordni ta ' sekwesuu,

kull mi n , meta jkun j ar jew ileollu suspett Ii I-o rdni la'

sekwesuu jkun hekk sar jew intalab, jikxef xi haga Ii lista'

lippregudika l·effikacja ta' I-i mse mm i ordni jew x i

investigazzjoni konnessa mieghu ikun hali ta' real u jehel,

melajinsab hati , multa la' mhux izjed minn hamest elef lira

Maltija jew prigunerija la' mhux izjed minn Inax·il xah ar,

jew dik il·multa u prigunerija flimkien

IUia fi proeedimenli ghal reat taht dan is·subartikolu 1-

akkui:al ikun jisla' jiddefendi ruhu bilJijipprova illi huwa rna

kienx jar je w jissuspe tta Ii I-kxif seta' jippregudika I·

invesligazzjonijew l-effikaeja la' l-ordni la' sekwestru.".

4 . Minnufih wara 14aniko lu 24A lal-Iig; principali ghandhom

jiZdiedu dawn J-anikoli godda Ii gejjin

248. (1 ) Meta I-A vukat Generali j ircievi taiba

maghmula minn awtoritA gudizzjarjajew prosekutrici ta' xi

post barra minn Malta sabiex isiru investigazzjonijiet rMalta

dwar persuna(hawnhckk iijed 'il quddiem imsejha "il-persu na

sus pellata") suspenata minn dik I-awtoritlt b'an jew

ommissjoni Ii jekk i5im f dawn il-Giejjer , jew rCirkostanzi

korrispondcnti, ik unu jikkostitwixxu x i wiehed mir-reati

msemmija fiI-paragrafi (a), (b), (e) u (d) tas-subartikolu ( I)

ta ' I-artikolu 24A, I-Avukat Generali jista' jitlob lill-Qorti

Kriminali gha! ordni ta' investigazzjoni jew ordni ta'

sekwestru jew ghat-Incjn u d-dispoiizzjonijiet ta' I-artikolu

24A ghandhorn mutatis mutandis japplikaw ghal dik it-taiba

u ghall-persunasuspettata u ghal kulJ ordni ta' investigazzjoni

jew ta' sekwestru magh rnul mill-Qorti bhala rii:ultat ta' dik

iI-taiba.

(2) l1-kliern " ordn i ta' investigazzjoni" fis -

subartikoli (2) u (5) ta' I-istess artikolu 24A ghaoohomjinqraw

ujiftiehmu bhala lijinkludu ordni ta' invesligazzjoni maghmul

lahl id·dispoiizzjonijiel ta' dan I-artikolu.

(I) Where the Attorney General receives a

request made by a judicial or prosecuting authority of any

~ place outside Malta for investigations to take place in Mal ta

;:.;..... in respect of a person (hereinafter referred. to as ''!he suspect")

suspected by that authority of an act or omission which if

committed in these Islands, or in corresponding

circumstances, wou ld constitute any of th e offences

mentioned in paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) of subsection

(I) of section 24A, the Attorney General may apply to the

Criminal Court for an investigation order or an attac hment

order or for both and the provisions of section 24A shall

mutatis mutandis apply tothat application and to the suspect

and to any investigation or attachment order made by the

Court as a result of that application.

(2) T he words "in vestigation order" in

subsections (2) and (5) of the same section 24A shall be

read and construed as including an investigation order made

under the provisions of this section.

(I) Where the Attorney General receives a

request made by a judicial or prosecuting authori ty of any

_ooed ... id> place outside Malta for the temporary seizure of all or any

of the moneys or property, movable or immovable , of a

br<:-U person (hereinafter in this section referred to as " the

accused") charged or accused in proceedings before the

courts of that place of an offence consisting in an act or an

omission which if committed in these Islands. or in

corresponding circumstances, would constitute any of the

offences mentioned in paragraphs (a). (b), (c) and (d) of

subsection (I) o f section 24A, the Attorney General may

apply to the Criminal Court for an order (hereinafter referred

to as a " freezing order") having the same effect as an order

as is referred to in subsection ( I ) of section 22A and the

provisions of the said section 22A shall. subject to the

following provisions o f th is section , apply mutaris mutandis

to thai order.

(2)

The first proviso ofsubse<:tion ( I) of section

22A shall not apply to a freezing order made under this section

unless

(D) the accused is present in Malia on the date the

order is made; or

(b) the Attorney General or any other interested

person present in Malta applies to the Court, before or

aftcrthe order is made, for the application or that proviso

in wh ich case the Court shall ooiy apply the proviso to

the extent that it is satisfied that the application o f the

proviso is necessary to allow the accused and his family

a decent living.

(3)

In the case of a freezing order under this

section it shall be sufficient thai the order contains at least

four of the paniculars referred to in su bsection (4) of section

22A and may also contain any other particulars, including

the passport number, of the accused as may be useful to

identify the accused.

(4) Subject to the provisions of subsection (5), a

freezing order under this section shall remain in force for a

period of six months from the date on which it is made but

shall be renewed by the Coun for further periods of six months

upon an application for that purpose by the Attorney General

and upon the Court being satisfied that

(a) the conditions which led to the making of the

order still exist; or

(b) that the accused has been convicted of an

offence as is referred to in subsection (I) of this section

in the proceedings referred to in the same subsection

and · the se ntence in regard to the accused in those

proceedings or any confiscation order consequential or

accessory thereto, whether made in civil or criminal

proceedings, has not been executed

Provided that where the accused has been convic ted as

aforesaid but no confiscation order has been made in the

sentence in respect of that conviction the freezing order shall

nevertheless be renewed as requested by the Attorney General

where the Court is satisfied that civil or criminal proceedings

for the making of such an order are peQding or are imminent.

(5) Any freezing order under this section may be

revoked by the Coun before the expiration of the period laid

down in subsection (4) of this section

(a)

at the request of the Attorney General; or

(b) at the request of Wiy interested person and after

hearing the Attorney General upon the Coun being

satisfied

( i) th at the conditions wh ich led to the

miling of the order no longer exist; or

(ii) that there has been a final decision in the

proceedings referred to in subsection ( I ) of this

section by vinue of which the accused has not been

found guilty of any o ffence as is referred to in the

same subsection.

(6) Section 228 shall also apply to any person

who acts in contravention of a freezing order under this

section.

240. (1) A confiscation order made by a court

outside MalIa shall be enforceable in Malta in accordance

with the followi ng provisions of this section.

OIl_Molal

(2) Where the AttorneyGenerai receives arequest

made by a judicial o r pf05e(:uli ng aU lhority of any place

outside Malta for the enforcement in Malta of a confiscation

order made by a competent coun in that place (hereinafter

referred to as a "foreign confiscation order") the Attorney

General may bring an action in the First Hall of the Civil

Court by an app lication containing a demand th at the

enforcement in Malta of the foreign confiscation order be

ordered.

(3) The Attorney Gene ral shall attach to the

application a copy of the re levant foreign confiscation order

together with all such documents in suppon of the demand as

it may be in his power to produce and shall indicate in his

application the names of all the wi tnesses he intends to

produce, stating in respect of each the proof which he intends

to make.

(4) The application shall be served on the person

whose property the foreign confiscation order purpons to

confiscate who shall file his reply within fifteen days after

the date of the service of the app lication. The reply shall

contain a list of the witnesses which the respondent intends

to produce Slating in respect of each the proof which he intends

to make and the respondent shall attach to the reply all such

documents he intends to produce in evidence as it may be in

his power 10 pnxIuce.

(5) The Court shall without delay. set down the

application for hearing at an early date, which dale shall in

no case be later than thirt), days from the dale of the filing of

the application.

(6) The Court shall not order the enforcement in

Malta of the foreign confiscation order if

(a) the respondent had not been notified of the

proceedings which led to the making of the relevant

foreign confiscation order so as not to have had an

adequate opportunity to contest the malting of the same

order; .

(b) the foreign confiscation order was obtained

by fraud on the part of any person to the prejudice of the

responde",;

(c) the foreign confiscation order contains any

disposi tion contrary to the public policy, or the internal

public law in force in Malta;

(d) the foreign confiscation order contain s

contradictory dispositions .

(7) A decision by the court ordering the

enforcement of a foreign confiscation order shall have the

effect o f forfeiting in favour of the Government of Malta all

things and property whatsoever situaled in Malta the

confiscation of which had been ordered in the foreign

confiscation o rder subject to any directio ns which the

Government of Malta may give providing for the further

disposal of the same things and property so forfeited.

(8) The decision ordering the enforcement of a

foreign confi scation order which provides for the forfeiture

of immovable property or of any title to s uch property shall

have the effect of transferring that immovable propeny or

that title to the Government of Malta and for the purposes of

section 239 of the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure Cap. L1

the Attorney General shall be considered as the interested party

that may obtain the registration of such transfer.

(9) The decision oi"dering the enforcement of a

foreign confiscation order which provides for the forfeiture

of unspecified property the value of which corresponds to

proceeds shall, upon being registered in the Public Registry

Office. create as from the day of registration a hypothec in

regard to the debt amounting to the said value.

Where the Attorney General receives a

(10)

request as is referred to in subsection (2) of this section the

Attorney General may, for the purpose of securing any or all

of the propeny which the foreign confiscation order purports

10 confiscate or forfeil, apply 10 the Civil Court, First Hall ,

for the issue of all or any of the precautionary acts referred to

in section 830 of the Code o f Organization and Civil

Procedure

Provided that subsection (2) of the aforesaid section

830 and paragraphs (c),(d) and (e) of subsection (I) of section

836 and of the Code ofOrganiZ3tion and Civil Procedure shall

not apply to any Preclautionary act issued by vinue of this

section.

(ll) Saving the preceding provisions of this

section, the provisions of the Code ofOrganizatioo and Civil

Procedure relating to proceeding:; before the Civil Court, First

Hall, shall apply in relation 10 any application under this

section .

For the purposes of this section

(12)

"confiscation order" includes any judgement,

decision. declaration, or other order made by a court

whether of criminal or civil jurisdiction providing or

purporting to provide for the confiscation or forfeiture

of

proceeds;

(i)

(ii) property into which proceeds have been

transfonned or converted;

(2) The provisions ofsubsoction (1) shall

cease to apply when the witness, expen or other

person

(a) fails to leave Malta , after having had

the opponunity to do so, within a period of

fifteen consecutive days from the date on which

he has been served by the Attorney General with

a notice infonning him that his presence in

Malta is no longer required; or

(b) having left Malta, has returned of his

own free will.

==

(1) Ordni la' konfiska maghmul minn qorti

barra minn Malta jista' jigi esegwit f'Malta skond id-

.'~ dispozizzjonijiet Ii gejjin ta' dan l-artikolu .

(2) Mela I-Avukat Generali jircievi lalba

magh mula minn aWlorillt gudizzjarja jew prosekutrlci la' xi

POSI barTa minn Malia ghall-esekuzzjoni fMaila ta' ordni la'

konfiska maghm ul min n qoni kompetenti f'dak iI-posl

(hawnhekk izjed ' il quddiem imsejjah "ordni esteru ta'

konfiska") I-Avukat Generali jista' jibda azzjoni f il-

Prim' Awla taJ-Qoni Civili permezz ta' rikors Ii fih jidob Ii

tigi ordnata l-esekuzzjoni fMalta ta' I-ordni estero ta'

konfi ska.

(3) L-Avuk81 Generali ghandujehmez mar-mors

kopja ta' l-ordni estero la' konfiska rilevanti flimkien mad-

dokumenti kollha Ii huwajkunjisla' jipproduCi b'sustenn ghat-

taiba tieghu u ghandu jaghti fi r-rikors tieghu l-ismijiet tax-

xhieda kollha lijJcun bi hsiebujgib, fejnjgbid dwarku ll wiehed

il-prova Ii jkun bi hsiebujaghmel .

(4) Ir-rikors ghandu jigi notifikat lill-persuna Ii

I-proprjeta taghha loOrdni estero la' konfiska jidher Ii jkun se

jikkonfiska, Hema persuna ghandha tipprei.enta r-risposta

taghha fi zrnien hrniSlaX-il jurn wara d-data tan-notifika tar-

rikors, Ir-risp08taghandu jkun fiha Iista tax-xhie<!a Ii I-intimal

ikun bi hsiebu jgib, rejn jghid dwar kull wiehe<! il-prova Ii

jlrun bi hsiebujaghrneJ u I-intimat ghandujehmez rnar-risposta

d-dokumenti kollha Ii huwajirunjista' jipproduci u Ii jkun bi

hsiebu jgib bhala prova,

(5) Il-Qoni gh!llldha,minghajrdewmien, tqieghed

ir-rikors ghas-smigh fdala kmieni,liema data rna ghandh.a

f'ebda kai tkun izjed tard minn tletin jum mid-data tal-

pre:ientata tar-rikors,

(6) n -Qorti rna ghandhiex tordna l-esekuzzjoni

fMalta la' l-ordni esteru ta' konfiskajekk

(a) I-inti mat rna kienx gie notifikat

bi1-

proCedimenti Ii kienu wasslu ghall-ghernil ta' l-ordoi

esteru ta' kO'lfiska rilevanti hell. Ii rna kellux opportunita

biZicjjed biex jikkontesla l-ghcmil ta' I-istess ordni;

(b) l-ordni esteru ta' konfiskajkun inkiseb bi frodi

daparti ta' xi persuna bi pregudizzju ghall-intimat;

I-ordni esteru la ' konfiska jkun fih xi

(c)

dispoZizzjoni kunuarja ghall-ordni pubbliku jew ghal-

!igi pubblilc.a lokali Ii tkun issehh fMalta;

(d) I-ordn; este ru ta' konfiska jkun fih

dispozizzjonijiet kontradittorji,

(7) DeCizjoni mill-qorti Ii biha ligi ordnata I-

esekuzzjoni ta' ordni esteru ta' konfiska ghandu jkollha 1-

efrett Ii tikkonfi ska favur i1-Gvem ta' MalIa kull haga u

proprjel~ tkun Ii Ikun Ii tkun tinsab f Maila Ii I-konfiska

taghhom tkun gietordnata n-ordni esleru ta' konfiska suggett

ghal kull direltiva Ii I-Gvem ta' Malta jista' jaghli sabiex

jiddisponi ulterjorment mill-istess hwejjeg u proprjet~ hek:lc

konfiskali,

(8) ld-dei:izjoni Ii biha ligi ordnata l-esekuzzjoni

ta' ordni esteru la' konfiska Ii jkun j ipprovdi ghall-konfiska

ta' proprjell immobbli jew ta' xi lilOlu ghal proprjell bhal

dik ikollha l-effett Ii titrasferiXJti dik i1-proprjetl immobbli

jew dak iHitoiu lill-Gvem ta' Malta u ghall-finijiet la' 1-

artikolu 239 tal-Kodici ta' Organizzazzjoni u ProCedura Civili [Up, 12

I-Avuka! Generali ghandu jitqies Ii hu I-pani interessata Ii

tista' tikseb ir-registrazzjoni ta' dak iHruferiment.

(9) Id-dcC:izjoni Ii biha tiSi ordnala l-esekuzzjoni

ta' orclni estero ta' konfiska Ii jkun jipprovdi ghall-konfiska

ta' proprjettr. mhux s pecifikata Ii I-valur taghha j kun

jikkorrispondi ghar-rikavat ghandha, kif tigi irregistrata fI-

Ufficcju tar-Registnl Pubblilcu , tipproduci minn dak in-nhar

Ii ligi held: registrnta ipoteka ghall-kreditu Ii jlrun jammonla

ghall-imsemmi val ur.

( 10) Meta l-A vukat Generali jircievi taiba kif

imsemmija fi s-subartikolu (2) la' dan I-artikolu I-Avukat

Generali j ista' , sabiex iqieghed fii.-igur xi propljetA jew iI-

proprjetA kollha Ii l-ordni estern ta' konfiska jidher Ii jkun

qed j ikkonfiska jew itellef, jitlob Iill-Prim' Awla taJ-Qorti

Civili ghall-hrug ta' kull jew la' xi att kawtelatorju msemmi

fl-artikolu 830 tal-Kodici la' Organizzazzjoni u ProCedura

C ivili

lroa s-submikolu (2) ta' I-artikol u 830 imsemmi

hawn qabel u l-paragrafi (c), (d) u (e) tas-subartikolu (I) ta'

I-artikolu 836 tal-Kodic i ta' Organiuazzjoni u ProCedura

Civili rna ghandhomx j applikaw ghaJ xi au kawtclatorju

mah rug bis-sahha ta' dan I-artikolu.

( I I) Bla hsara ghad-dispoziujonijiet preCedenti

ta' dan I-anikolu , id-dispozizzjonij icl lal-Kodici la'

Organizzazzjoni u Proecdura Civili dwar proecdimc nti

quddicm ii-Prim' Awla tal-Qorti Civili ghandhom japplikaw

ghal kull rikors tahl dan I-artikolu.

Ghall-finijict ta' dan I-artikolu

(1 2)

"ordn i ta' konfiska" linkludi kull senlcnza, de-

ciljoni, dikjarazzjoni, jc w oedni ichor rnaghrnul minn

qon i kemm ta' gurisdizzjoni kriminali jew civili Ii jkun

j ipprovdi jcw jidhcr lijkunjipprovdi ghall-konfiskajcw

telfien ta'

(i) rikavat;

(ii) pro prjeta Ii fiha r-rikavat ikun g ie

trasfonnat jew konvertil;

(iii)

proprjeta Ii magl'l hajkun gie mhallat ir·

rikavat;

(iv) i~ jew bencfii:Cji ohraderivati minn

(i), (ii) u (iii) ta' hawn fuq

(v) proprjeta Ii I-valur taghhajikkorrispondi

ghar-okavat; jew

(vi) mediCini perikoluzi, materjali u taghrnir

jew stru mentalitajiet ohra wiati jew mahsuba biex

jintui.aw b'xi mod freal rilevanti;

"rikaval" lfisscr kull vanlagg ekonomiku u ku ll

proprjetA derivata minn jew miksuba, direttament jew

indirettamenl , mill-ghernil ta' reat rilevanti u tinkludi

kull income jew beneficeji ohra derivati minn dik il-

proprjctA;

"proprjelll." tfisser attiv la' kull xona, kemrn jekk

korporali jew inkorporali, mobbli jew immobb li ,

tangibbli jew inlangibbli, u dokumenti jew istrumenti

legali Ii huma prova ta' tilolu ghai,jew interess fi,dak 1-

attiv;

"real rilevanti" ltisscr kull reat Ii jkun jikkonsisti

C~i att jew ornmissjoni Ii jekk isim Cdawn il-GZejjer I

jew fe irkosianzi konispondenti, ikunu jik.kostitwi~~u

xi wiehed mir-reati msemmija fi l-paragrafi (a), (b), (e)

u (d) tas-subparagrafu (I ) ta' I-artikolu 24A .".

5, Minnufih wara I-anikolu 30B tal-ligi prinCipali ghandhorn Ziedoll'

l...-tikoli jodda

jiidiedu dawn I-artikoli godda Ii gejjin

,., . ~

moI.1iji printii*i.

30e. (I) Bla hsara ghad-dispozizzjonijiel las-

subanikolu (2), meta xhud, espert jew persuna ohra fpajjii

barrani jaqblu, dwar reat kontra d-dispoiizzjonijietla' din 1-

Ordinanza, Ii jixhdu fi proeediment je w Ii jghinu

f investigazzjoni. prosckuzzjoni jew proeediment gudizzjarju

f Malta wara taiba ghal assistenza ta' dik ix-xona maghmula

rnill-awtoritll. kompetcnti f'M alta lill-awloritll. kompetenli

fdak il-pajjiz barrani dak ix-~hud. espen jew persuna ohra

rna ghandhomx. wagl Ii j kunu rMalta, jigu proCessati,

detenuti, jinghataw piena jew jigu assoggettati ghai xi

restrizzjoni ohra fuq il-libena personali taghhom dwar alti .

ommissjonijietjew kundanni ta' qabel it-tluq taghhom mill-

pajjii barrani.

(2) Id.dispozizzjonijiet tas-subanikolu (I) rna

jibqghux japplikaw mela x-xhud, espen jew persuna ohra

(a) jonqsu Ii jitilqu minn Malta, wara Ii kellhorn

l-opponun ita Ii jaghmlu dan, ti imien perijodu la'

hmistu-il jum konsekultivi mid-data Ii tiha humajkunu

gew notifikali miIl-Avukal Generali b'avvii Ii

jinformahom Ii I- pre:ienza taghhom rMalta rna tkunll

ghadha mehliega; jew

(b) wara Ii jkunu teiqu minn Mal ta, jirritornaw

minn jeddhorn.

300 . (I)

Meta l-Avukat Generali J'j rcievi taiba

K..,.......joooi

rnaghmula minn awtoritl gudizzjarja jew prosekutrici 18' xi

r ... ~.o.t.. post barra minn Malia (hawnhekk ii-jed 'il quddiem imsejha

"\·awtoritlli taahmel it-taiba") ghal awtori~oni bielt 1-

awtoritajict kompetenti ta' dak ii-post jiehdu I-mi:i:uri xierqa

dwar bicca tal-bahar rilevanti ragonevolment suspettata Ii tkun

qed twettaq reat rilevanti I-Avukat Generalijista' bil-qbil tal·

Prim Ministru,jawtorizza Hehid ta' I-imsemmija miZuri mill-

aWloritajiel kompetenti haWD qabel imsemmija suggetl ghal

dawk il-kondizzjonijict Ii j istghu jigu miftiehma bejn 1-

awtoritlli taghmel it-taiba u I-Avukat Generali, bil-qbil tal-

Prim Ministru.

(2)

Meta tkun inghalat I.awtoriz.zazzjoni mill·

Avukat Genera1i kifimsemmi qabel l-awtoritajict kompelcnti

msemmija fis-subartikolu (I), suggeu ghall-kondizzjonijiet

Ii jistgbu ikunu gew miftiehma kif provdut f1-istess

subartikolu, ikunu awtorizzati Ii jiehdu I- miiuri xierqa u Ii

jeierCitaw abbord il-bieca tal-bahar Ii dwarha jkunu gew

awtori7.zati l-mizuri xierqa raht dan I-artikolu dawk is-setghat

kollha ta' arrest,dhul, perkwizizzjoni u qbid Ii huma mogl'ltija

lill-pulizija eiekuttiva ta' Malta.

(3)

Ghall-finijiet ta' dan I-artikolu

"rcat rilevanti" ghandha I-istess tifsir kif moghti

lilha bis-subartikolu (12) ta' I-artikolu 24D;

"bicca tal-bahar rilevanti" tfisser bastiment jew kull

ingenji ohra lijrommu rwioc I-ilma ta' kull deskrlzzjoni,

inkluii hovtrcrafts u ingenji sommergibbli, Ii jtajru 1-

bandiera Maltija jew juru I-mariti ta' rcgistrazzjoni ta'

Malta waqt Ii jkunujeierCitaw il-libertll ta' navigazzjoni

skond id-dritt intemazzjonali; u

"mizuri xierqa" dWaT biCbl tal-m-har link-Iudi t -tlugh

abbord fuq u I-perkwiiizzjoni ta' dik il-biCCa tal-bahar

kif ukoll kull azzjoni xierqa ohra dwar dik il-bicea tal-

bahar, persuni u taghbija abbord dik il-bioca tal-bahar

jekk tinsab prova Ii dik il-bicca tal-bOOar tkun involuta

rreat rilevanti ....

6. (I) Fil-paragrafu (b) ta' I-artikolu 17 tal-Kodki Kriminali,

minflok il-kliem "hamsa u ghoxrin sena" ghandhom jidhlu \-kliem

"hamsa u tletin sena".

(2) Is-subartikolu (1) la' I-anikolu 31 tal-KodiCi Kriminali,

ghandu jigi emendat kif gcj

(a) is-subparagrafi (i) sa (xiii) laJ-paragra(u (b) tieghu

ghaodhom jigu en urne rat i mill-gdid bhala (ii) sa (xiv)

rispeuivament;

minnufih qabel is-subparagrafu (ii), kif coumera! mill-

(b)

gdid, tal-paragrafu (b) lieghu ghandu j i:i:died dan is-subparagrafu

gdid Ii gej

minn tmien soio sa tleun sena ,": u

"(i)

fil-paragrafi (e) u (d) tieghu. minflok il-kliem "mit-

(e)

tlettax-il grad" kull fejn dawn jinsabu ghandhom jidhJu I-kliem

"mill-erbatax-i1 grad".

Mghoddi mill-Kamra tad-Deputati fis-Seduta Nru . 555 ta' I-Emgha, 19 ta' Gunju,

1996. R ICHARD J. CAUCHl

Skrivan tal-Kamra tad-lkputati

(I) Where the Anomey General

Co-open<ioD

receives a request made by ajudicial or prosecuting

authority of any place outside Malta (hereinafter in

this section referred to as the "requesting authority")

seeking authorization for the competent authorities

of that place to take appropriate measures in regard

to a relevant vessel reasonably suspected to be

engaged in the commission of a relevant offence the

Attorney General may, with the concurrence of the

Prime Minister, authorise the taking of the said

measures by the aforesaid competent authorities

subject to such conditions as may be agreed between

the requesting authority and the Attorney General,

with the concurrence o f the Prime Minister.

(2) Where authorisation has been given

by the Anomey General as aforesaid the competent

authorities referred to in the subsection (I), subject

to the conditions as may have been agreed upon as

provided in the same subsection, shall be authorised

to take the appropriate measures and to exercise on

board the vessel in regard to which appropriate

measures have been authorised under this section all

such powers of arrest, entry, search and seizure as

are vested in the executive police of Malta.

(3)

For the purposes of this section

"relevant offence" shall have the same

meaning assigned to it by subsection (12) of

section 24D;

"relevant vessel" means a ship or any other floating

craft of any desc ri ption. including hovercrafts and

submersible crafts, flying the flag of Mail a or displaying

the marks of registry of Malta and eltcrcising freedom

of navigation in accordance with intemationallaw; and

"appropriate measures" with regard to a vessel

include the boarding of and carrying a search on such

vessel as well as such other appropriate action with

respect to the vessel, persons and cargo on board such

vessel if evidence of involvement of the vessel in a

relevant offence is found,".

6. (1) in paragraph (b) of section 17 of the Cri minal Code, for

the words ''twenty-five years"there shall be substituted the words "thirty-

(2) Subsection (I) of section 31 o f the Criminal Code shall

be amended AS follows

subparagraphs (i) to (xiii) of paragraph (b) thereof shall

(a)

be renumbered (ii) to (xiv) respectively;

(b) immediately before subparagraph (ii), as renumbered,

of paragraph' (b) thereof there shall be added the following new

subparagraph

"(i)

from eight years to thirty years,"; and

in paragraphs (e) and (d) thereof, for the words "from

(e)

the thirteenth degree" wbereverthey occur there shall besubstituted

the words "from the fourteenth degree" .

Passed by the House of Representatives at Sitting No. 555 of Wednesday,

L AWJl.ENCB GONZl

Speaku

RICHARD J. CAUCHI

Clerk fa the House of Repre:stntatives

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