The United Nations (International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals) Order 2018

Service of process

24.—(1) This article applies where the Secretary of State receives from the Mechanism—

(a) a summons or other process requiring a person (not being a prisoner) to appear before the Mechanism for the purposes of giving evidence or assisting an investigation or for both; or

(b) a document notifying interested parties of a special hearing to determine the matter of restitution of specified property or the proceeds of it and affording them the opportunity to justify a claim to the property or its proceeds,

together with a request for it to be served on a person (“P”) in the United Kingdom.

(2) If it appears that P is in Scotland, the Secretary of State must transmit the summons, other process, or document to the Lord Advocate.

(3) The Secretary of State or, where P is in Scotland, the Lord Advocate may cause the process or document to be served by post or, if the request is for personal service, direct the chief officer of police to cause it to be personally served on P.

(4) Where a person is served with any summons or other process referred to in paragraph (1)(a)—

(a) that person is obliged to comply with the summons or process; and

(b) the service of such a summons or process must be accompanied by a notice stating the effect of sub-paragraph (a) and of article 9 (securing attendance of person as witness or to assist in investigations).

(5) The service of a document referred to in paragraph (1)(b) must be accompanied by a notice stating that the person on whom it is served may wish to seek advice as to the possible consequences of failing to justify a claim.

(6) Where a chief officer of police is directed under this article to cause any process or document to be served—

(a) the chief officer must inform the Secretary of State or, (where the direction was given by the Lord Advocate), the Lord Advocate as soon as practicable after the process or document has been served of when and how it was served and (if possible) furnish the Secretary of State or (where the direction was given by the Lord Advocate) the Scottish Ministers with a receipt signed by the person on whom it was served; or

(b) if the chief officer has been unable to cause the process or document to be served, the chief officer must inform the Secretary of State or (where the direction was given by the Lord Advocate) the Lord Advocate, as soon as practicable of that fact and of the reason.

(7) References in this article to the chief officer of police are to—

(a) where P appears to be in England and Wales, the chief officer of police of the area in which P appears to be;

(b) where P appears to be in Scotland, the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Scotland; or

(c) where P appears to be in Northern Ireland, the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.