Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2008L03492:body:0:p10
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2008L03492
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 22782–25539

intended to be used in, or in connection with, the commission of an offence.

Article 17
Availability of Persons to Give Evidence
or Assist in Investigations

1. When a person in the Requested State is needed to appear as a witness or expert in proceedings or to assist in investigations in the Requesting State, the Central Authority of the Requested State shall, upon request, invite the person to appear or assist in investigations in the Requesting State unless that person is the person charged.

2. The Requested State shall indicate to the person the extent to which expenses will be paid. The response of the person shall be communicated promptly by the Requested State to the Requesting State.

3. Where appropriate, the Requested State shall satisfy itself that satisfactory arrangements have been made for the person's safety.

Article 18
Safe Conduct

1. No person in the territory of the Requesting State to testify or provide a statement in accordance with the provisions of this Treaty shall be prosecuted or punished in the Requesting State for any offence, nor be subject to any civil suit, being a civil suit to which the person could not be subjected if the person were not in the Requesting State or subjected to any other restriction of personal liberty by reason of any acts or omissions which preceded that person's departure from the Requested State, nor shall that person, without that person's consent, be obliged to give evidence in any proceeding other than the proceeding to which the request relates.

2. The safe conduct provided for by this Article shall cease when the person, having had the opportunity to leave the Requesting State within 15 consecutive days after official notification that that person's presence is no longer required by the appropriate authorities, shall have nonetheless stayed in that State or shall have voluntarily returned after having left it.

3. A person appearing in the Requesting State pursuant to a request made under Article 14 or 17 shall be subject to the law of that State relating to contempt, perjury and the making of false declarations.

4. A person who does not consent to a request pursuant to Article 14 or 17 shall not, by reason thereof, be liable to any penalty or be subjected to any coercive measure notwithstanding any contrary statement in the request or in any document accompanying the request.

Article 19
Compatibility with Other Treaties

This Treaty shall not alter the rights and obligations of the Contracting States which arise from other international agreements, nor shall this Treaty prevent the Contracting States from providing assistance to each other pursuant to other international agreements binding upon them, or otherwise.

Article 20
Consultation

The