Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F1996B02320:body:0:p2
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F1996B02320
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 2909–5774

(b) the execution in the Requested State of criminal judgments imposed in the Requesting State; and
         (c) the transfer of persons in custody to serve sentences.

ARTICLE 2

Central authority

 1. Requests for assistance shall be made through the Central Authorities.

 2. For the purposes of this Agreement the Central Authority of Australia shall be the Attorney-General's Department, Canberra and the Central Authority of Finland shall be the Ministry of Justice, Helsinki.  The Contracting States shall advise each other of any change of Central Authorities.

ARTICLE 3

Refusal of assistance

 1. Assistance may be refused if:
         (a) the request relates to the prosecution or punishment of a person for an offence that is regarded by the Requested State as:
 (i) an offence of a political character; or
 (ii) an offence under military law of the Requested State which is not also an offence under the ordinary criminal law of the Requested State;
         (b) the request relates to the prosecution or punishment of a person for an offence in respect of which the offender has been finally acquitted or pardoned or has served the sentence imposed;
         (c) there are substantial grounds for believing that a consequence of providing assistance would be prejudice to any person on account of that person's race, sex, religion, nationality or political opinions or to the safety of any person;
         (d) the Requested State is of the opinion that the request, if granted, would prejudice its sovereignty, security, national interest or other essential interests;
         (e) the request relates to the prosecution or punishment of a person for an offence where the acts or omissions alleged to constitute that offence would not, if they had taken place in similar circumstances within the jurisdiction of the Requested State, have constituted an offence;
         (f) the request relates to the prosecution or punishment of a person for an offence which is committed outside the territory of the Requesting State and the law of the Requested State does not provide for the punishment of an offence committed outside its territory in similar circumstances;
         (g) the request relates to the prosecution or punishment of a person for an offence which, had it been committed in the Requested State, could no longer be prosecuted by reason of lapse of time or any other reason;
         (h) the provision of the assistance sought could prejudice an investigation or proceeding in the Requested State or impose an excessive burden on the resources of that State;
         (i) there are substantial grounds for believing that the evidence or information sought is to be used by the Requesting State for purposes other than those stipulated in the request; or
         (j) there are substantial grounds for believing that a person whose