Sentencing Amendment Act 2009

1: Title
This Act is the Sentencing Amendment Act 2009.
2: Commencement
This Act comes into force on 1 December 2009.
3: Principal Act amended
This Act amends the Sentencing Act 2002 2009-12-01 Sentencing Act 2002
4: Purpose
The purpose of this Act is to establish a regime for the forfeiture of instruments of crime as part of the sentencing process.
5: Application
The amendments made to the Sentencing Act 2002
6: Interpretation
Section 4(1) forfeiture order section 5(1) instrument forfeiture order section 142N instrument of crime
a: means property used (wholly or in part) to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, a qualifying instrument forfeiture offence; and
b: includes, in relation to a qualifying instrument forfeiture offence that is an offence against section 8(1) or (2A) of the Terrorism Suppression Act 2002, funds (as defined in section 4(1) of that Act) allocated for the purpose of committing that offence qualifying instrument forfeiture offence
a: means an offence punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of 5 years or more; and
b: includes an attempt to commit, conspiring to commit, or being an accessory to an offence if the maximum term of imprisonment for that attempt, conspiracy, or activity is 5 years or more tainted property section 5(1) .
7: New heading and new section 10B inserted
The following heading and section are inserted after section 10A Taking account of instrument forfeiture order or successful application for relief
10B: Court must take into account instrument forfeiture order or successful application for relief
1: In sentencing or otherwise dealing with an offender convicted of a qualifying instrument forfeiture offence, the court must take into account—
a: any instrument forfeiture order made, or to be made, in respect of property used to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, the qualifying instrument forfeiture offence:
b: any forfeiture of that property by any other order or means arising from the offender’s conviction:
c: any order for relief made under section 142L or 142M
d: the nature of the relationship between that person and the offender:
e: the likely benefit to the offender of any order referred to in paragraph (c)
2: In deciding the weight to be given to any matter referred to in subsection (1)(a), (b), or (d)
a: the value of the property that is the subject of the instrument forfeiture order or that is otherwise forfeited:
b: the nature and extent of the offender’s interest in that property.
3: Without limiting any other powers of a court to adjourn, in any case contemplated by this section a court may adjourn the proceedings until—
a: any property that is the subject of a forfeiture order has been surrendered to the Official Assignee; or
b: any appeal or application for relief in relation to an instrument forfeiture order or any other proceeding under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009 has been determined.
8: Power of adjournment for inquiries as to suitable punishment
Section 25(1)
da: to determine whether to impose an instrument forfeiture order and, if so, the terms of that order: .
9: Access to reports
Section 29(1) or section 142F section 33
10: New heading and sections 142A to 142Q inserted
The following heading and sections are inserted after section 142 Instrument forfeiture orders
142A: Interpretation of terms used in sections 142B to 142Q
For the purposes of sections 142B to 142Q Commissioner prosecutor section 5(1)
142B: Duties of prosecutor if offender guilty of qualifying instrument forfeiture offence
If a person is convicted of a qualifying instrument forfeiture offence and any property was used to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, that offence, the prosecutor must, if in the prosecutor’s opinion the court should consider whether to make an instrument forfeiture order in respect of that property, notify the court in writing of—
a: the details of that property:
b: the name and identifying details of any person (other than the offender) who, to the knowledge of the prosecutor, has an interest in the property.
142C: Duties of court on notification
On receiving notice under section 142B
a: must direct the prosecutor to issue and serve any notice required by section 142E
b: may direct the prosecutor to report further information to the court under section 142F
142D: Notice of possible instrument forfeiture order may be recorded on registers
1: Subsection (2) section 142C
a: title to that property; or
b: charges over that property.
2: If this subsection applies, the court may order any authority responsible for administering an enactment of the kind referred to in subsection (1) Authority
3: The court must order an Authority to cancel an entry made on a register under subsection (2)
a: the matter to which the entry relates is finally determined and the relevant appeal period (defined in section 73(3) section 85
b: proceedings to which the entry relates are discontinued for any reason. 1991 No 120 s 16(2), (3)
142E: Duties of prosecutor as to service
1: If a court gives a direction under section 142C section 142B
a: that the property may be made the subject of an instrument forfeiture order:
b: that the person may, within 10 working days of the date of the notice, apply to the court for relief:
c: of the grounds set out in section 77(1)
2: A notice given under subsection (1) section 142C
142F: Court may require further information
The court may, for the purposes of determining whether to make an instrument forfeiture order or an order for relief from an instrument forfeiture order, or for the purposes of determining the terms of an instrument forfeiture order or an order for relief from an instrument forfeiture order, direct the prosecutor, the offender, or any person who applies for relief to provide further information to the court about—
a: the value of the property that comprises the instrument of crime:
b: the nature, extent, and value of the offender’s interest in the property that comprises the instrument of crime:
c: the name of any other person with an interest in the instrument of crime, the nature and extent of that person’s interest, and whether or not that person has been notified of the proceedings:
d: the name of any person who may suffer undue hardship if the property is confiscated and the nature of that hardship:
e: any other matter specified by the court.
142G: Independent valuation of property
For the purposes of determining the value of an instrument of crime, a court may, at its own discretion or at the request of either party to the proceedings or any person who claims to have an interest in the property, seek an independent valuation as to the value of the property or any interest in the property.
142H: Court may order declaration of ownership to be completed
1: If a court is considering whether or not to make an instrument forfeiture order, the court may order that the offender, or any other person, complete a declaration of ownership before making the order.
2: The declaration of ownership must specify—
a: whether the offender owns, or has any interest in, the property in question at the relevant date; and
b: whether any other person owns, or has any interest in, the property at the relevant date, and, if so, the name of that person and the nature of that interest; and
c: whether the offender has ceased to be the owner of, or to have any interest in, the property in question at any time subsequent to the commission of the offence but before the date of his or her conviction; and
d: if the offender has disposed of his or her interest in the property in question during the period referred to in paragraph (c)
3: If a court does not make an order under this section that does not affect the validity of any other order of the court.
4: In this section, relevant date
142I: Determining ownership of property
For the purpose of determining the nature and extent of any person’s interest in an instrument of crime, the court may apply the provisions of section 58
142J: Applications for relief from instrument forfeiture order
1: Any person (other than the offender) may make an application for relief from an instrument forfeiture order.
2: An application by any person for relief must be made to the court that convicted the offender—
a: on either of the grounds set out in section 77(1)
b: in the prescribed form (if any); and
c: within—
i: the time specified in the notice served on the person under section 142E
ii: if no notice is served on the person, 15 working days after the day on which the offender was convicted of the qualifying instrument forfeiture offence; or
iii: the time allowed by the court, if the court grants an application by the person to make an application for relief after the time by which such an application must be made under subparagraph (i) or (ii).
3: An applicant for relief from an instrument forfeiture order must serve notice of that application on—
a: the prosecutor:
b: the offender:
c: the Commissioner:
d: the Official Assignee:
e: any other person whom the applicant has reason to believe may—
i: have an interest in the property that is the subject of the application; or
ii: suffer undue hardship as a consequence of the forfeiture of the property:
f: any specified person or class of persons in respect of whom the court directs the applicant to serve notice of the application.
4: An applicant for relief must provide the court and the prosecutor with a list of persons on whom notice of the application has been served.
142K: Hearings concerning instrument forfeiture orders
1: If a court issues a direction under section 142C section 142J
2: At the hearing, the prosecutor, the offender, any person making an application for relief from an instrument forfeiture order, and any other person who claims to have an interest in the property that may be the subject of the instrument forfeiture order or who believes that he or she may suffer undue hardship if the property is forfeited, may be heard.
3: If a hearing is not held under subsection (1) subsection (2)
142L: Court may grant relief from instrument forfeiture order to applicant who establishes interest in property
1: This section applies if—
a: a person applies to the court under section 142J section 77(1)(a)
b: the court is satisfied, following a hearing under section 142K
i: has an interest in the property to which the instrument forfeiture order relates; and
ii: was not involved in the qualifying instrument forfeiture offence to which the order relates.
2: If this section applies, the court must make an order—
a: declaring the nature, extent, and value of the applicant’s interest in the property; and
b: either—
i: directing the Crown to transfer the interest to the applicant; or
ii: declaring that there is payable by the Crown to the applicant an amount equal to the value of the interest declared by the court; or
iii: directing that the interest not be included in an instrument forfeiture order made in respect of the proceedings that gave rise to the application; or
iv: determining, in accordance with section 142N
3: Despite subsection (2) subsection (2)
a: the applicant was, in any respect, involved in the commission of the offence in respect of which forfeiture of the property is or was under consideration; or
b: if the applicant acquired the interest at the time of or after the commission of the offence, the applicant did not acquire the interest in the property in good faith and for value.
4: The court must not make an order under subsection (2)(b)(ii) subsection (2)(b)(i) or (iii)
142M: Court may grant relief from instrument forfeiture order to applicant on grounds of undue hardship
1: This section applies if a person applies to the court under section 142J section 77(1)(b)
2: If the court is satisfied that, having regard to all the circumstances, undue hardship is likely to be caused to the person making the application or to another person (other than the offender), by the operation of an instrument forfeiture order, the court—
a: may order that the person is entitled to be paid a specified amount out of the proceeds of sale of the property, being an amount that the court thinks is necessary to prevent undue hardship to that person; and
b: if the person is under 18 years, may make additional orders for the purpose of ensuring the proper application of an amount to be paid to that person.
3: The circumstances a court may have regard to under subsection (2)
a: the use that is ordinarily made, or was intended to be made, of the property that would be the subject of the instrument forfeiture order; and
b: the nature and extent of any person’s interest in the property; and
c: any other matter relating to the nature and circumstances of the qualifying instrument forfeiture offence to which the property relates. 1991 No 120 ss 15(2), 18
142N: Instrument forfeiture orders
1: Following a hearing under section 142K section 142B
2: In considering whether or not to make an instrument forfeiture order under subsection (1)
a: any matter raised in an application for relief under section 142J
b: the use that is ordinarily made, or was intended to be made, of the instrument of crime; and
c: any undue hardship that is reasonably likely to be caused to any person by the operation of such an order; and
d: the nature and extent of the offender’s interest in the instrument of crime (if any), and the nature and extent of any other person’s interest in it (if any); and
e: in addition to the matters referred to in section 77(1)
3: A court that makes an instrument forfeiture order may, if it considers that it is appropriate to do so, by order,—
a: declare the nature, extent, and value of any person’s interest in an instrument of crime; and
b: declare that the instrument forfeiture order may, to the extent to which it relates to the interest, be discharged under section 85
4: If the court orders that property (other than money) be forfeited to the Crown, the court must specify in the order the amount that it considers to be the value of the property at the time the order is made.
5: If a court makes an instrument forfeiture order, the court may give any directions that are necessary or convenient for giving effect to the order.
142O: Offence of providing false or misleading information under section 142F
Every person is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to a fine not exceeding $1,000 who provides false or misleading information to a court in response to a direction under section 142F
142P: Evidence in instrument forfeiture order proceedings
In determining whether or not to make an instrument forfeiture order under section 142N
a: documents, exhibits, or other things connected with the proceedings that the court considers relevant; and
b: notes or transcripts of evidence admitted in the proceedings. 1991 No 120 s 14(1)
142Q: Relationship with other provisions in Act
Nothing in sections 142A to 142P