CONFISCATION ACT 1997 - SECT 31D Application for freezing order

CONFISCATION ACT 1997 - SECT 31D

S. 31D(1) amended by Nos 37/2014 s. 10(Sch. item 25.5), 44/2022 s. 25.

    (1)     An investigative officer may apply to the Magistrates' Court for a freezing order if the applicant believes on reasonable grounds that—

        (a)     the person in whose name the account is held in respect of which the freezing order is sought or a person who has an interest in that account—

S. 31D(1)(a)(i) amended by Nos 87/2004 s. 22(1)(c), 55/2014 s. 28(a).

              (i)     has committed, or is about to commit, a Schedule 1 offence, a Schedule 2 offence or a serious drug offence; or

              (ii)     was involved in the commission, or is about to be involved in the commission, of such an offence; or

S. 31D(1)(a)(iii) amended by No. 55/2014 s. 28(b).

              (iii)     has benefited directly or indirectly, or is about to benefit directly or indirectly, from the commission of a Schedule 1 offence or a Schedule 2 offence; and

        (b)     an application for a restraining order is likely to be made in respect of property in which the person—

              (i)     in whose name the account is held has an interest; or

              (ii)     who has an interest in the account in respect of which a freezing order is sought, has an interest.

S. 31D(1A) inserted by No. 68/2010 s. 46(1), amended by Nos 37/2014 s. 10(Sch. item 25.5), 44/2022 s. 25.

    (1A)     An investigative officer may apply to the Magistrates' Court for a freezing order if the applicant suspects on reasonable grounds that—

S. 31D(1A)(a) amended by No. 44/2022 s. 5(1)(a).

        (a)     the relevant account contains money or is associated with a digital asset which is tainted property in relation to a Schedule 2 offence; and

S. 31D(1A)(b) amended by No. 44/2022 s. 5(1)(b).

        (b)     an application for a civil forfeiture restraining order is likely to be made in respect of property which is money in, or a digital asset associated with, the account.

S. 31D(1B) inserted by No. 79/2014 s. 12(1), amended by No. 44/2022 s. 25.

    (1B)     An investigative officer may apply to the Magistrates' Court for a freezing order in respect of an account if the applicant suspects on reasonable grounds that—

        (a)     the person in whose name the account is held or a person who has an interest in the account has engaged in serious criminal activity; and

S. 31D(1B)(b) amended by No. 44/2022 s. 5(2).

        (b)     an application for an unexplained wealth restraining order is likely to be made in respect of money held in, or a digital asset associated with, that account.

S. 31D(2) amended by Nos 68/2010 s. 46(2), 79/2014 s. 12(2).

    (2)     Subject to this section and section 31E, an application under subsection (1), (1A) or (1B) must be supported by an affidavit setting out—

        (a)     the grounds on which the freezing order is sought; and

        (b)     the name or names in which the relevant account is held; and

        (c)     the financial institution with which the account is held; and

        (d)     the account number or, if this is not known to the applicant, a description of the account that is sufficient to identify the account.

S. 31D(3) amended by No. 6/2018 s. 68(Sch.  2 item 26.2).

    (3)     If the applicant for a freezing order believes that it is impracticable for an affidavit to be prepared and sworn or affirmed before the application is made, an application may be made before an affidavit is prepared or sworn or affirmed.

    (4)     If subsection (3) applies, the applicant for a freezing order must—

        (a)     provide as much information as the Magistrates' Court considers is reasonably practicable in the circumstances; and

S. 31D(4)(b) amended by No. 6/2018 s. 68(Sch.  2 item 26.3).

        (b)     not later than the day following the making of the application, send a duly sworn or affirmed affidavit to the venue of the Magistrates' Court that determined the application, whether or not a freezing order has been made.

S. 31D(5) amended by No. 37/2014 s. 10(Sch. item 25.5).

    (5)     In addition to the powers of the Magistrates' Court under section 126 of the Magistrates' Court Act 1989 , the Court may order that the whole or any part of the proceedings for an application for a freezing order be heard in closed court if the Court is of the opinion that it is necessary to do so in order not to prejudice an investigation by a police officer.

S. 31E (Heading) amended by No. 33/2018 s. 79(1).

S. 31E inserted by No. 63/2003 s. 10.