Magistrates’ Courts (Proceeds of Crime) (Detention and Forfeiture of Cash) Rules 1999
FA E R
N
AT F
TQUO U
BERMUDA
MAGISTRATES’ COURTS (PROCEEDS OF CRIME) (DETENTION AND
FORFEITURE OF CASH) RULES 1999
BR 75 / 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Citation and interpretation
Application for continued detention of seized cash
Hearing of application for continued detention of seized cash
Unattended parcels etc.
Order for continued detention of seized cash
Notice of order for continued detention of seized cash
Subsequent applications
Direction for release of cash
Forfeiture
Legal expenses for appeal against order
Joinder
Notice
Procedure of hearings
SCHEDULE
FORMS
The Magistrates, in exercise of the power conferred on them under section 21 of
the Magistrates Act 1948 and section 52 of the Proceeds of Crime 1997, hereby make the
following Rules as approved by the Chief Justice–
Citation and interpretation
These Rules may be cited as the Magistrates’ Courts (Proceeds of Crime)
(Detention and Forfeiture of Cash) Rules 1999.
In these Rules–
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
1 (1)
(2)
1
MAGISTRATES’ COURTS (PROCEEDS OF CRIME) (DETENTION AND
FORFEITURE OF CASH) RULES 1999
“the Act” means the Proceeds of Crime Act 1997;
“cash” has the meaning given in section 52(4) of the Act (that is to say, it includes
coins and bank-notes in any currency and negotiable instruments);
“clerk” means the person whom the Senior Magistrate may designate as the clerk
of the Magistrates’ Court for the purposes of these Rules;
“criminal conduct” has the meaning given in section 3 of the Act;
“form” means a form set out in the Schedule to these Rules or a form to the like
effect.
Application for continued detention of seized cash
An application for an order under section 50(2) of the Act for continued
detention of cash seized under section 50(1) shall be made in Form PoC 1 to a magistrate.
A copy of the application under paragraph (1) above shall be given by the
applicant to the person from whom the cash was seized.
Hearing of application for continued detention of seized cash
The magistrate considering an application under section 50(2) of the Act–
shall require the matters contained in it to be sworn by the applicant under
oath;
may require the applicant to answer any questions under oath; and
may require any statement in response by the person from whom the cash
was seized to be made under oath.
The magistrate shall record or cause to be recorded in writing the substance of
any statements made under oath which are not already recorded in the written application.
Unattended parcels etc.
In rules 2, 3 and 8, references to the person from whom the cash was seized include
references to the sender and the intended recipient, where known, of a letter, parcel,
container or other means of unattended dispatch; but a magistrate shall not decline to hear
an application in such a case solely on the ground that it has not been proved that the
sender or intended recipient has received a copy of the written application under rule 2(2).
Order for continued detention of seized cash
An order made by a magistrate under section 50(2) of the Act shall be in Form
PoC 2.
Notice of any order mentioned in paragraph (1) shall be given forthwith by the
applicant to any person appearing to him to be affected by it, and such notice shall be in
the Form set out in Form PoC 2 and shall be accompanied by a copy of the order.
2 (1)
(2)
3 (1)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(2)
4
5 (1)
(2)
2
MAGISTRATES’ COURTS (PROCEEDS OF CRIME) (DETENTION AND
FORFEITURE OF CASH) RULES 1999
Notice of order for continued detention of seized cash
Where, in accordance with an order made under section 50(2) of the Act, the
applicant gives notice to any person affected by the order, the applicant shall notify the clerk
of the names and addresses of the persons so notified.
Subsequent applications
An application under section 50(3) of the Act for further detention of cash shall
be in Form PoC 3 and shall be sent to the clerk.
An application under section 50(5) of the Act for the release of detained cash
shall be made in writing to the clerk, and shall specify the grounds on which it is made.
The clerk shall fix a date for the hearing of such an application, shall notify the
applicant thereof, and shall notify any persons to whom notice of the order for continued
detention has been given of the application and of the date fixed for the hearing.
If the court is satisfied that an order for further detention of cash should be
made under section 50(3) of the Act, it shall endorse the order for continued detention
accordingly, and a copy of the order so endorsed shall be given by the clerk to any persons
to whom notice of the order for continued detention has been given.
Direction for release of cash
A direction under section 50(5)(a) of the Act for the release of detained cash shall
be in Form PoC 4, and shall provide for the release of the cash within 7 days of the date of
the making of the direction, or such longer period as with the agreement of the person from
whom the cash was seized may be specified in the notice.
Forfeiture
An application for forfeiture of cash under section 51 of the Act shall be in Form
PoC 5 and shall be addressed to the clerk.
The clerk shall fix a date for the hearing, shall notify the applicant thereof, and
shall notify any persons to whom notice of an order for continued detention has been given
of the application and of the date fixed for the hearing.
Legal expenses for appeal against order
An application under section 51(4) of the Act for the release of cash to meet the
appellant’s legal expenses shall be made in writing and shall contain the name and address
of the barrister and attorney instructed by the appellant and the amount requested to be
released, together with any evidence in support of the application.
A copy of the written application shall be served on the person on whose
application the order forfeiting cash was made.
The clerk who receives such an application shall fix a date for the hearing of
the application, shall notify the appellant thereof, and shall notify any persons to whom
notice of forfeiture was given.
6
7 (1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
8
9 (1)
(2)
10 (1)
(2)
(3)
3
MAGISTRATES’ COURTS (PROCEEDS OF CRIME) (DETENTION AND
FORFEITURE OF CASH) RULES 1999
A direction for the release of cash under section 51(4) of the Act shall be in Form
PoC 6.
Joinder
At any hearing under section 50(3) or (5) or 51 of the Act, or on the application of
any person affected by an order for continued or further detention, the court may, if it thinks
fit, order that such person be joined as a party to the proceedings and, if the court so orders,
otherwise than at such a hearing, the clerk shall give notice to the other parties.
Notice
Any notice or copy of any order required to be given to any person under these Rules
may be given by sending it by registered post to his last known address.
Procedure of hearings
At the hearing of an application under section 50(3) or (5) or 51 of the Act, any
person to whom notice of the application has been given may attend and be heard on the
question whether–
a further order should be made,
an existing order should be discharged, or
a forfeiture order should be made,
as the case may be, but the fact that any such person does not attend shall not prevent the
court from hearing the application.
Subject to these Rules, proceedings on such an application shall be regulated
in the same manner as proceedings on a complaint, and accordingly for the purposes of
this rule the application shall be deemed to be a complaint, the applicant to be a
complainant, the respondents to be defendants, and any notice given by the clerk under
rule 7(3) or 9(2) of these Rules to be a summons; but nothing in this rule shall be construed
as enabling a warrant of arrest to be issued for failure to appear in answer to any such
notice.
(4)
11
12
13 (1)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(2)
4
MAGISTRATES’ COURTS (PROCEEDS OF CRIME) (DETENTION AND
FORFEITURE OF CASH) RULES 1999
SCHEDULE
(Rule 1(2))
FORMS
FORM POC 1
Application for Continued Detention of Seized Cash - section 50(2) of Proceeds of Crime Act
1997
Date............................................................................................................................
Person from whom cash seized......................................................................................
Address.......................................................................................................................
Amount seized (**estimated)..........................................................................................
Date of seizure.............................................................................................................
Time of seizure.............................................................................................................
Place of seizure............................................................................................................
(Name of applicant)................................................ of ...................................................
(address and official position of applicant)
...................................................................................................................................
applies for an order under section 50(2) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 1997 authorising the
continued detention of the above-mentioned cash and will state upon oath that:
there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that it directly or indirectly
represents any person’s proceeds of, or is intended by any person for use
in, criminal conduct, namely–
(state grounds).....................................................................................
...........................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................
and
the continued detention of the cash for a period of ............... is justified
while–
its origin or derivation is further investigated,**
consideration is given to the institution of criminal proceedings against
any person for an offence with which the cash is connected.**
* In the case of a letter, parcel container or other means of unattended dispatch, insert names,
if known, of sender and intended recipient
** Delete as appropriate
Note:
(a)
(b)
(i)
(ii)
5
MAGISTRATES’ COURTS (PROCEEDS OF CRIME) (DETENTION AND
FORFEITURE OF CASH) RULES 1999
A copy of this application must be given to the person from whom the cash was seized. The
magistrate who considers this application will require the facts alleged in it to be sworn
under oath and may require the applicant to answer any questions under oath. The
magistrate may require any statement in response by the person from who the cash was
seized to be given under oath.
FORM POC 2
Order for Continued Detention of Seized Cash - section 50(2) of Proceeds of Crime Act 1997
Date.... ........................................................................................................................
Person from whom cash seized......................................................................................
Address.......................................................................................................................
Amount seized..............................................................................................................
Date of seizure.............................................................................................................
Time of seizure.............................................................................................................
Place of seizure............................................................................................................
On the application of, ...................................... (name of applicant), after hearing oral
evidence from the applicant/representations from ........................... (name), being the
person from whom the cash was seized,
Decision. It is ordered that the above-mentioned cash be further detained for a period
of .................... (state period up to a maximum of three months) from the date of this order
or until its release may be sooner directed.
Notice of this order must be given forthwith by the applicant to any person appearing to him
to be affected by it. Such notice shall be in the form set out below, and shall be accompanied
by a copy of this order.
Magistrate
* In this case of a letter, parcel, container or other means of unattended dispatch, insert
names, if known, of sender and intended recipient
NOTICE TO PERSONS AFFECTED BY ORDER FOR CONTINUED DETENTION OF SEIZED
CASH
Cash in the sum of ......................... (amount) was seized on ...................... (date and time)
at .............................. (place) from ................................. (person from whom seized), and
on ...................................... (date of order) an order was made under section 50(2) of the
Proceeds of Crime Act 1997 authorising the continued detention of the cash for a period
of ........................... (state period). A copy of order is enclosed with this notice.
You are being given notice of the order because it appears that you may be affected by it.
You may be able to apply for the release of the cash under section 50(5) of the Proceeds of
Crime Act 1997.
6
MAGISTRATES’ COURTS (PROCEEDS OF CRIME) (DETENTION AND
FORFEITURE OF CASH) RULES 1999
At the end of the above-mentioned period of detention an application may be made for its
further detention. You will be notified by the court if such an application is made or if any
other person makes an application to the court for release of the cash.
Signed .....................
Date ........................
FORM POC 3
Application for Further Detention of Seized Cash - section 50(3) of Proceeds of Crime Act 1997
Date............................................................................................................................
Date of order for continued detention of seized cash.......................................................
(Name of applicant).......................................................................................................
of................................................................................................................................
(address and official position of applicant) applies for an order under section 50(3) of the
Proceeds of Crime Act 1997 authorising the further detention of cash in the sum
of ................................... (amount).
To: The Clerk to Magistrates’ Court
FORM POC 4
Direction for Release of Detained Cash - section 50(2) of Proceeds of Crime Act 1997
Date............................................................................................................................
On the application of (name of applicant).......................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
of (address of applicant)................................................................................................
after hearing oral evidence from............................................................/representations
from............................................................................................................................
Decision. It is directed that the sum of ........................... together with any interest accruing
thereon in accordance with section 52(1) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 1997, be released to
or to the order of .................... (name) on or before .................... (date, not more than 7
days from date of order or such later date as with the agreement of the applicant may be
specified).
Magistrate
FORM POC 5
Application for Forfeiture of Cash Seized under section 50 of Proceeds of Crime Act 1997
Date............................................................................................................................
7
MAGISTRATES’ COURTS (PROCEEDS OF CRIME) (DETENTION AND
FORFEITURE OF CASH) RULES 1999
(Name of applicant)................................................ of ..................................................
(address and official position of applicant) applies for an order under section 51(1) of the
Proceeds of Crime Act 1997 for the forfeiture of cash in the sum of ............. (amount) seized
on ................ (date and time) from .................... (person from whom seized), together with
any interest accruing thereon pursuant to section 52(1) of that Act, on the grounds that the
said cash–
directly or indirectly represents any person’s proceeds of criminal conduct;
or
is intended by any person for use in criminal conduct.*
To: The Clerk of the Magistrates’ Court
* Delete as appropriate
FORM POC 6
Application for Release of Cash for Legal Expenses under section 51(4) of Proceeds of Crime
Act 1997
Date............................................................................................................................
On the application of (name of applicant).......................................................................
of (address of applicant)................................................................................................
after hearing oral evidence from....................................................................................
/representations from...................................................................................................
Decision. It is directed that the sum of ...................... be released to meet the legal expenses
of the applicant in connection with his appeal, in accordance with section 51 of the Proceeds
of Crime Act 1997.
Magistrate
Made this 2nd day of December 1999
Senior Magistrate
Chief Justice
(a)
(b)
8
