Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 1992

Requests by foreign countries for orders or warrants in New Zealand

  • Heading: substituted, on 1 December 2009, by section 10 of the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 9).

59 Request for search warrant in New Zealand
  • (1) A foreign country may request the Attorney-General to obtain the issue of a search warrant in New Zealand in respect of a criminal investigation or criminal proceedings relating to—

    • (a) tainted property (as defined in relation to Part 3); or

    • (b) property that belongs to a person who has unlawfully benefited from significant foreign criminal activity; or

    • (c) an instrument of crime (as defined in relation to Part 3); or

    • (d) property that will satisfy some or all of a foreign pecuniary penalty order.

    (2) After a request is made, the Attorney-General may, if satisfied of the matters in subsection (3), do any of the following:

    • (a) authorise a constable to apply under section 124 of the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009 for a search warrant under section 101 of that Act in relation to that property:

    • (b) authorise the Commissioner to apply under section 125 of the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009 for a search warrant under section 102 of that Act in relation to that property:

    • (c) authorise the Official Assignee to apply under section 126 of the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009 for a search warrant under section 110 of that Act in relation to that property.

    (3) The matters referred to in subsection (2) are—

    • (a) that the request relates to a criminal investigation or criminal proceedings relating to—

      • (i) tainted property (as defined in relation to Part 3); or

      • (ii) property that belongs to a person who has unlawfully benefited from significant foreign criminal activity; or

      • (iii) an instrument of crime (as defined in relation to Part 3); or

      • (iv) property that will satisfy some or all of a foreign pecuniary penalty order; and

    • (b) that there are reasonable grounds for believing the property is located in New Zealand.

    Section 59: substituted, on 1 December 2009, by section 10 of the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 9).