The Proceeds of Crime (Northern Ireland) Order 1996

Exercise of powers for the realisation of property

Exercise of powers by High Court or receiver

36.—(1) This Article applies to the powers conferred—

(a) on the High Court by Articles 31 to 35; or

(b) on a receiver appointed under Article 31 or 34 or in pursuance of a charging order.

(2) Subject to the following provisions of this Article, the powers shall be exercised with a view to making available for satisfying the confiscation order or, as the case may be, any confiscation order that may be made in the defendant’s case the value for the time being of realisable property held by any person by the realisation of such property.

(3) In the case of realisable property held by a person to whom the defendant has directly or indirectly made a gift caught by this Order the powers shall be exercised with a view to realising no more than the value for the time being of the gift.

(4) The powers shall be exercised with a view to allowing any person other than the defendant or the recipient of any such gift to retain or recover the value of any property held by him.

(5) An order may be made or other action taken in respect of a debt owed by the Crown (including the Crown in right of Her Majesty’s Government in Northern Ireland).

(6) In exercising those powers, no account shall be taken of any obligations of the defendant or of the recipient of any such gift which conflict with the obligation to satisfy the confiscation order.