GOVERNMENT GAZETTE OF THE I REPUBLIC N$2.28 OF NAMIBIA No. 1358 WINDHOEK - 16 July 1996 CONTENTS Page GOVERNMENT NOTICE No. 192 Promulgation of Extradition Act, 1996 (Act 11of 1996), of the Parliament Government Notice OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER No. 192 PROMULGATION OF ACT OF PARLIAMENT 1996 The following Act which has been passed by the Parliament and signed by the President in terms of the Namibian Constitution is hereby published in terms of Article 56 of that Constitution. No. 11 of 1996: Extradition Act, 1996. . '" 2 Act No.ll, 1996 Government Gazette 16 July 1996 EXTRADITION ACT, 1996 No. 1358 ACT To provide for the extradition of persons accused or convicted of certain crimes committed within the jurisdictions of certain countries, and to provide for incidental matters. (Signed by the President on 1 July 1996) ARRANGEMENT OF ACT PART I PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS 1. 2. 3. 4. Definitions. Liability to extradition. Meaning of "extraditable offence". Countries to which persons may be extradited. PART II RESTRICTIONS ON RETURN 5. 6. Restrictions on return. Prosecution of Namibian citizens for extraditable offences committed in other countries. PART III PROCEDURE 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. Requests for return of persons. Particulars and documents in support of request for return. Further particulars required by Minister. Authority to proceed and warrant of arrest. Provisional warrants of arrest on grounds of urgency. Enquiry proceedings for committal. Certain conditions for return. Appeals. Waiver of right to enquiry. Order for return. Extradition to Namibia. . '" No. 1358 Act No.l1, 1996 Government Gazette 16 July 1996 EXTRADITION ACT, 1996 3 PART IV MISCELLANEOUS 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. Authentication of foreign documents. Concurrent requests for return. Legal representation. Bail. Custody. Handing over of property. Transit. Regulations. Repeal of laws, savings and transitional provisions. Short title and commencement. BE IT ENACTED by the Parliament of the Republic of Namibia, as follows:- PART I PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS Definitions 1. In this Act, unless the context otherwise indicates - "enquiry" means an enquiry in terms of section 12; "external warrant" means a judicial document issued under the laws of a requesting country authorising the arrest of a person; "extraditable offence" means an offence contemplated in section 3; "extradition agreement" means and agreement entered into by Namibia and another country in accordance with the Namibian Constitution, providing for the return on a reciprocal basis of persons accused or convicted of an extraditable offence; "magistrate" includes an additional magistrate, divisional magistrate, or regional magistrate; "Minister" means the Minister of Justice; "requesting country" means any country contemplated in section 4(1) which requests the return to that country of a person accused or convicted of an extraditable offence in that country; "return" means the surrender to a country contemplated in section 4( I) of a person requested to be returned to such country under this Act; . '" 4 Act No.H, 1996 Government Gazette 16 July 1996 EXTRADITION ACT, 1996 No. 1358 "this Act" includes the regulations made under section 25. Liability to extradition 2. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, any person in Namibia, other than a Namibian citizen, who - (a) is accused of having committed an extraditable offence within the jurisdiction of a country contemplated in section 4(1); or (b) is alleged to be unlawfully at large after having been convicted of such an offence in such a country, may, upon a request made by such country in terms of section 7, be arrested and returned to that country in accordance with the provisions of this Act or, where applicable, the terms of an extradition agreement existing between Namibia and such country, whether or not such offence was committed before or after the commencement of this Act or before or after the date upon which the relevant extradition agreement came into operation. (2) A person referred to in subsection (1) shall include a person who is accused or convicted of having counselled, procured, commanded, aided or abetted the commission of an extraditable offence, or of being an accessory before or after the fact to such an offence. Meaning of "extraditable offence" 3. (1) For the purposes of this Act "extraditable offence" means an act, including an act of omission, committed within the jurisdiction of a country contemplated in section 4(1) which constitutes under the laws of that country an offence punishable with imprisonment for a period of 12 months or more and which, if it had occurred in Namibia, would have constituted under the laws of Namibia an offence punishable with imprisonment for a period of 12 months or more. (2) In determining whether any conduct constitutes an extraditable offence, all the surrounding circumstances pertaining to such conduct shall be taken into account, and it shall not matter that - (a) the terminology which denotes the offence is not the same as, or that the conduct constituting the offence is not placed in the same category as, or that the constituent elements of the offence differ from, a similar offence in Namibia; or (b) the offence for which the extradition is sought pertains to taxation, customs duty, exchange control, or any other form of fiscal regulation which is not enforced in Namibia. . I" No. 1358 Act No.ll, 1996 Government Gazette 16 July 1996 EXTRADITION ACT, 1996 5 Countries to which persons may be extradited 4. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the extradition of persons from Namibia may be effected to(a) any country which has entered into an extradition agreement with Namibia; and , (b) any other country, including a Commonwealth country, which has been ~\-oc specified by the President by proclamation of this Act. in the Gazette for purposes s\q '\ (2) The President may revoke or amend any proclamation made under subsection (1). PART II RESTRICTIONS ON RETURN Restrictions on return 5. (1) Notwithstanding section 2 or the terms of any extradition agreement which may be applicable, no person shall be returned to a requesting country, or be committed or kept in custody for the purposes of such return, if it appears to the Minister acting under section 6(3), 10 or 16 or the magistrate concerned acting under section 11 or 12, as the case may be (a) that the offence for which such return was requested is an offence of a political nature: Provided that this provision shall not apply to any offence declared not to be a political offence for purposes of extradition by an multilateral international convention to which both Namibia and the requesting country concerned are parties; (b) that the offence for which such return was requested is an offence under military law which is not also an offence under the criminal law of the requesting country; (c) that there is substantial evidence to suggest that the requesting country is likely to prosecute or punish the person on account of his or her race, religion, nationality, or political opinion; (d) that the person will be or may be liable to a death penalty or any other type of punishment that is not applied in Namibia if he or she is so returned, unless the requesting country guarantees that the death penalty or such other type of punishment will not be imposed o~ if imposed, will not be carried out; . '" 6 Act No.n, 1996 Government Gazette 16 July 1996 EXTRADITION ACT, 1996 No. 1358 (e) that the offence for which such return was requested has, according to the laws of Namibia or the requesting country, prescribed through lapse of time; (f) that the offence for which such return was requested is regarded under the laws of Namibia as having been committed in Namibia, and in respect of which (i) proceedings are pending in Namibia against that person; (ii) a final judgement has been passed; or (iii) the Prosecutor-General has decided not to institute or has terminated proceedings against that person; (g) that such return or custody would be irreconcilable with humanitarian considerations in view of the age or health of the person; (h) that the granting of the request for such return would be in conflict with Namibia's obligations in terms of any international convention, agreement, or treaty; (i) that such person would be entitled to be discharged under any rule of law relating to previous acquittal or previous conviction if charged in Namibia with the offence for which his or her return was requested; or that the person has been sentenced or would be liable to be tried or sentenced in the requesting country by an extraordinary orad hoc court or tribunal: Provided that an international tribunal constituted under the authority of the United Nations to try persons accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity, or crimes against peace shall not be regarded as an extraordinary or ad hoc court or tribunal as contemplated by this paragraph. (j) ~ \ (2) Notwithstanding section 2 or any extradition agreement which may be applicable, no person who is alleged to be unlawfully at large after conviction of an extraditable offence shall be returned to a requesting country, or be committed or kept in custody for the purposes of such return, if it appears to the Minister acting under section 6(3), 10 or 16 or the magistrate concerned acting under section 11 or 12, as the case may be (a) that the conviction was obtained in such person's absence; (b) that it would not be in the interests of justice to return such person on the ground of that conviction; or (c) that a period of less than six months of the sentence in question remains to be served. . '" No. 1358 Act No.n, 1996 Government Gazette 16 July 1996 EXTRADITION ACT, 1996 7 (3) Notwithstanding section 2 or any extradition agreement which may be applicable, no person shall, except with the written consent of the Minister or of that person, be returned to a requesting country, or be committed or kept in custody for the purposes of such return, unless provision is made in the relevant laws of the requesting country or it has otherwise been arranged with that country that the person concerned shall not be surrendered by the requesting country to any other country seeking that person for an offence which he or she is accused to have committed in the latter country. (4) Notwithstanding section 2 or any extradition agreement which may be applicable, no person shall be returned to a requesting country, or be committed or kept in custody for the purposes of such return, unless provision is made in the relevant laws of the requesting country or it has otherwise been arranged with that country that such person shall not, unless he or she has first had an opportunity to leave the requesting country, be detained, charged with, or punished for any offence other than (a) (b) 1-"" the offence in respect of which such return was sought; any lesser offence proved on the facts on which such return was sought; or (c) an offence committed after such person has been so returned: Provided that the Minister may give his or her written consent that such person may be so returned to be dealt with in respect of any offence not being an offence contemplated in paragraphs (a), (b), or (c). Prosecution of Namibian citizens for extraditable offences committed in other countries 6. (1) A Namibian citizen may be prosecuted and punished in Namibia in accordance with the laws of Namibia for any extraditable offence which such Namibian citizen may have committed or is accused of having committed within the jurisdiction of a country contemplated in section 4( 1), but no such prosecution shall be instituted unless (a) a request for the return of that person has been made in accordance with the provisions of this Act; and the Prosecutor-General prosecution. has in writing authorized the institution of such . I . '.. (b) - (2) For the purpose of determining the jurisdiction in relation to proceedings under subsection (1), the conduct constituting the offence shall for all purposes connected with or consequential to the trial of such offence be deemed to have been committed within the magisterial district of Windhoek. (3) Notwithstanding section 2(1), the Minister may in writing authorize a magistrate to proceed under sections 10 and 12 against a Namibian citizen whose 8 Act No.n, 1996 Government Gazette 16 July 1996 No. 1358 EXTRADITION ACT, 1996 return has been requested under section 7, jf in the opinion of the Minister such return is warranted due to (a) the seriousness of the extraditable offence; (b) the cost involved in bringing the necessary witnesses and other evidence to Namibia; or (c) any other circumstances justifying extradition, provided that the Minister is satisfied that the order for such return can lawfully be made in accordance with this Act. PART III PROCEDURE Requests for return of persons 7. Subject to section 8, a request for the return of a person under this Act shall be made in writing to the Minister (a) in such manner as may be specified in an extradition agreement which may be applicable; or (b) by a diplomatic or consular representative of the requesting country, accredited to Namibia, but if the requesting country is a Commonwealth country, such request may also be made by or on behalf of the government of such country. Particulars and documents in support of request for return 8. (1) Notwithstanding the terms of any extradition agreement which may be applicable, a request made under section 7 shall be accompanied (a) by the full particulars ofthe person whose return is requested and information, if any, to establish that person's location and identity; (b) by the full particulars of the offence of which the person is being accused or was convicted and in respect of which his or her return is sought, a reference to the relevant provisions of the law of the requesting country which were breached by the person and a statement of the penalties which may be imposed for such offence; by a statement or statements containing information which set outprima facie evidence of the commission of the offence contemplated in paragraph (b) by the person whose return is requested; (c) . .'" No. 1358 Act No.ll, 1996 Government Gazette 16 July 1996 EXTRADITION ACT, 1996 9 (d) by the original or an authenticated copy of the external warrant issued in relation to the person whose return is requested; and (e) in the case of a person who is unlawfully at laIge after conviction of an extraditable offence (i) by the original or authenticated copy of the record of the conviction and sentence and a certificate stating any outstanding period of any such sentence; or (ii) if no sentence has been imposed, by the original or authenticated copy of the record of the conviction and a statement by a competent judicial or public officer of the requesting country affirming that a competent court intends to impose a sentence. (2) All particulars and copies of all documents contemplated in subsection (1) shall be made available to the person whose return is requested. (3) Any document referred to in subsection (1) which is not drawn up in the English language shall be accompanied by a sworn translation thereof in that language. Further particulars required by Minister 9. If the Minister considers any information provided in terms of section 8 to be insufficient to decide on the request for return, he or she may, by using the same channel of communication as was used for making the request, require the requesting country to furnish the necessary further particulars within such time as the Minister may determine. Authority to proceed and warrant of arrest 10. (1) Upon receiving a request made under section 7 the Minister shall, if he or she is satisfied that an order for the return of the person requested can lawfully be made in accordance with this Act, forward the request together with the relevant documents contemplated in sections 8 and 9 to a magistrate and issue to that magistrate an authority in writing to proceed with the matter in accordance with sectionl2. (2) Upon receiving the documents and authorization referred to in subsection (1) or section 6(3), as the case may be, the magistrate shall, if he or she is satisfied that the external warrant accompanying the request is authenticated as contemplated in section 18(1), endorse that warrant, and whereupon that warrant may be executed in the manner contemplated in subsection (3) as if it were issued in the court of that magistrate under the laws of Namibia relating to criminal procedure. (3) A warrant endorsed in terms of subsection (2) may be executed in any part of Namibia. .. . '" 10 Act No.H, 1996 Government Gazette 16 July 1996 EXTRADITION ACT, 1996 No. 1358 (4) Any person arrested under subsection (3) shall in accordance withArticle 11 of the Namibian Constitution (a) be informed promptly in a language that he or she understands of the grounds for such arrest; and (b) be brought before a magistrate within 48 hours of his or her arrest or; if it is not reasonably possible, as soon as possible thereafter, to be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of section 12. Provisional warrants of arrest on grounds of urgency 11. (1) section - Notwithstanding section 7, and subject to subsection (2) of this (a) any diplomatic or consular representative of a country contemplated in section 4(1); or (b) the International Police Commission (Interpol), on behalf of such a country; or (c) in the case of a Commonwealth country contemplated in section 4(1), in addition to the ways set out in paragraphs (J 18 Act No.n, 1996 Government Gazette 16 July 1996 EXTRADITION ACT, 1996 No. 1358 (b) shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years. Handing over of property 23. (1) Subject to the provisions of any other law and the rights of third parties under common law, any property found in Namibia that is duly proved to have been acquired as a result of the offence for which the return of a person has been granted under this Act or that may be required as evidence may, if the requesting country concerned so indicates and at that country's expense, be transferred thereto under an order issued by a magistrate. (2) The magistrate may issue the order for the surrender of property in tenus of subsection (I) notwithstanding the fact that the return in question cannot be carried out by reason of the death or escape of the person to be returned. Transit 24. Transit through Namibia of a person being extradited from one foreign country to another may be permitted by the Minister following a request made by the country to which that person is being conveyed, and if that person is in custody during such transit, he or she shall remain in custody throughout the transit period. Regulations 25. The Minister may make regulations (a) prescribing the form of any warrant, form, order, or other document which is required to be issued for the purposes of this Act; (b) prescribing, generally, any matter which he or she considers necessary or expedient to prescribe in order that the objects of this Act may be better achieved. Repeal of laws, savings and transitional provisions ,26. (1) The laws specified in the Schedule are hereby repealed to the extent set out in the third column of that Schedule. (2) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), anything done under a law repealed by 'subsection (1) and which could have been done under a corresponding provision of this Act shall be deemed to have been done under that corresponding provision. (3) Subject to subsection (4), any request made under a law repealed by ~ubsection (1) for the return of a person to a country to which the provisions of this Act apply shall be dealt with and finalized under the corresponding provisions of this Act. . '-" No. 1358 Act No.l1, 1996 Government Gazette 16 July 1996 EXTRADITION ACT, 1996 19 (4) Any enquiry commenced on or before the date of commencement of this Act under a law repealed by subsection (1) and which has not been completed on the said date of commencement shall be proceeded with and the matter finalized as if this Act had not been passed. Short title and commencement 27. This Act shall be called the Extradition Act, 1995, and shall come into ]::)c-,-k~ \\ 'i;\q\c, operation on a date to be determined by the Minister by notice in the Gazette. ~Ol\. "'. \ 9:"'-\"'\\c, SCHEDULE (Section 26) No. and year of law Act 67 of 1962 Act 93 of 1963 Short title Extradition Act, 1962 General Law Further Amendment Act, 1963 General Law Amendment Act, 1968 General Law Amendment Act, 1969 Extradition Amendment Act, 1987 Extent of repeal The whole Sections 18 to 20, inelusive Sections 53 and 54 Act 70 of 1968 Act 101 of 1969 Section 21 Act 46 of 1987 The whole . '"