CONFISCATION ACT 1997 - SECT 52 Determination of exclusion application—automatic forfeiture

CONFISCATION ACT 1997 - SECT 52

S. 52(1) amended by No. 42/2007 s. 11(1).

    (1)     On an application made under section 51, the court may make an order excluding the applicant's interest in property from the operation of section 35—

S. 52(1)(a) amended by No. 42/2007 s. 11(2).

        (a)     if the court is not satisfied that the property in which the applicant claims an interest is not tainted property or derived property but is satisfied that—

S. 52(1)(a)(i) amended by No. 87/2004 s. 22(1)(m).

              (i)     the applicant was not, in any way, involved in the commission of the Schedule 2 offence; and

S. 52(1)(a)(ii) amended by Nos 87/2004 s. 22(1)(m), 68/2009 s. 97(Sch. item 23.40).

              (ii)     where the applicant acquired the interest before the commission of the Schedule 2 offence, the applicant did not know that the accused would use, or intended to use, the property in, or in connection with, the commission of the Schedule 2 offence; and

S. 52(1)(a)(iii) amended by Nos 87/2004 s. 22(1)(m), 42/2007 s. 11(2).

              (iii)     where the applicant acquired the interest at the time of or after the commission of the Schedule 2 offence, the applicant acquired the interest without knowing, and in circumstances such as not to arouse a reasonable suspicion, that the property was tainted property or derived property; and

S. 52(1)(a)(iv) substituted by No. 42/2007 s. 11(3), amended by No. 68/2009 s. 97(Sch. item 23.40).

              (iv)     the applicant's interest in the property was not subject to the effective control of the accused on the earlier of the date that the accused was charged with the Schedule 2 offence or the date that the restraining order was made in relation to the property; and

S. 52(1)(a)(v) amended by No. 68/2009 s. 97(Sch. item 23.40).

              (v)     where the applicant acquired the interest from the accused, directly or indirectly, that it was acquired for sufficient consideration; or

S. 52(1)(b) amended by No. 42/2007 s. 11(2).

        (b)     if the court is satisfied that the property is not tainted property or derived property and that—

S. 52(1)(b)(i) substituted by No. 42/2007 s. 11(4), amended by No. 68/2009 s. 97(Sch. item 23.40).

              (i)     the applicant's interest in the property was not subject to the effective control of the accused on the earlier of the date that the accused was charged with the Schedule 2 offence or the date that the restraining order was made in relation to the property; and

S. 52(1)(b)(ii) amended by No. 68/2009 s. 97(Sch. item 23.40).

              (ii)     where the applicant acquired the interest from the accused, directly or indirectly, that it was acquired for sufficient consideration.

    (2)     If the court makes an order under subsection (1), the court may also make an order declaring the nature, extent and value of the applicant's interest in the property.

S. 53 amended by Nos 43/1998 s. 36(n), 87/2004 s. 18(1)–(4), 79/2006 s. 11, 42/2007 s. 18(Sch. item 16), repealed by No. 68/2010 s. 51,

new s. 53 inserted by No. 55/2014 s. 35.