Section 408A: Evidence overseas, Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

This section applies if a person or property is subject to a civil recovery investigation , a detained cash investigation, a detained property investigation , a frozen funds investigation or a cryptoasset investigation.

A judge of the Court of Session may request assistance under this section if—

an application is made by an appropriate person or a person subject to the investigation, and

the judge thinks that there is relevant evidence in a country or territory outside the United Kingdom.

An appropriate person may request assistance under this section if the person thinks that there is relevant evidence in a country or territory outside the United Kingdom.

The assistance that may be requested under this section is assistance in obtaining outside the United Kingdom relevant evidence specified in the request.

Relevant evidence is—

in relation to an application or request made for the purposes of a civil recovery investigation, evidence relevant for the purpose of identifying recoverable property or associated property, including evidence as to a matter described in section 341(2)(a) to (d);

in relation to an application or request made for the purposes of a detained cash investigation, evidence as to a matter described in section 341(3A)(a) or (b).

in relation to an application or request made for the purposes of a detained property investigation, evidence as to a matter described in section 341(3B)(a) or (b);

in relation to an application or request made for the purposes of a frozen funds investigation, evidence as to a matter described in section 341(3C)(a) or (b);

A request for assistance under this section may be sent—

to a court or tribunal which is specified in the request and which exercises jurisdiction in the place where the evidence is to be obtained,

to the government of the country or territory concerned, or

to an authority recognised by the government of the country or territory concerned as the appropriate authority for receiving requests for assistance of that kind.

Alternatively, a request for assistance under this section may be sent to the Secretary of State with a view to it being forwarded to a court, tribunal, government or authority mentioned in subsection (6).

The Secretary of State must forward the request for assistance to the court, tribunal, government or authority.

In a case of urgency, a request for assistance under this section may be sent to—

the International Criminal Police Organisation, ...

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

for forwarding to the court, tribunal, government or authority mentioned in subsection (6).

Rules of court may make provision as to the practice and procedure to be followed in connection with proceedings relating to requests for assistance made by a judge under this section.

"Evidence" includes documents, information in any other form and material.

Section 408A: Evidence overseas

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