Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters
Mutual assistance is the process countries use to provide and obtain formal government to government assistance in criminal investigations and prosecutions, and to recover the proceeds of crime. In Vanuatu, mutual legal assistance is governed by the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 2003 [Cap 285] (the MACMA). This legislation facilitates both requests made by Vanuatu to other countries and request made from other countries to Vanuatu.
Extradition
Extradition is a process that allows one country to send a person to another country to face criminal charges or to serve a sentence. A country requesting extradition may rely on either an international treaty or on the domestic law of the foreign country. In Vanuatu the procedure for extradition is governed by the Extradition Act 2003. This legislation facilitates a request to extradite a person to and from Vanuatu.
The Central Authority
The MACMA and Extradition Act designates the Public Prosecutor as the Central Authority to make and receive requests for international assistance.
A request for the extradition of a person from Vanuatu may be sent to the Public Prosecutor of Vanuatu through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, it is not necessary to send requests through diplomatic or consular channels. They may be sent directly to:
The Public Prosecutor:
Office of the Public Prosecutions. Rue De Queiros, Port Vila,Vanuatu
Telephone : (678) 22271
Facsimile : (678) 26168
Private Mail Bag 9035
Rue De Queiros, Port Vila, Vanuatu