Payment and enforcement
Section 116: Time for payment
187.Section 116 indicates how long the court may allow the accused to pay the amount due under the confiscation order. It provides that a confiscation order is to be paid immediately, unless the accused can demonstrate to the court that he needs more time to pay. If the court is satisfied that it is required, the court may allow up to six months time to pay, and up to a further six months on a later occasion if there are exceptional reasons justifying the extension. In no case, however, will more than 12 months be granted from the day on which the confiscation order is made.
Section 117: Interest on unpaid sums
188.Section 117 makes it clear that the accused must pay interest on a confiscation order which is not paid in full by the time allowed.
Section 118: Application of provisions about fine enforcement
189.Section 118 provides that the sums ordered to be paid under a confiscation order shall be enforced in the same way as fines, that is under the procedure set out in the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995. Enforcement will continue to be carried out by the sheriff clerk. Section 118 also contains general provision on imprisonment in default of a confiscation order. The provision reflects that in existing legislation and provides, in particular, that a term of imprisonment in default of a confiscation order must be served consecutively to the substantive term imposed for the offence(s).
