Drug Trafficking Act 1994

3 Postponed determinations

(1) Where the Crown Court is acting under section 2 of this Act but considers that it requires further information before—

(a) determining whether the defendant has benefited from drug trafficking, or

(b) determining the amount to be recovered in his case by virtue of that section,

it may, for the purpose of enabling that information to be obtained, postpone making the determination for such period as it may specify.

(2) More than one postponement may be made under subsection (1) above in relation to the same case.

(3) Unless it is satisfied that there are exceptional circumstances, the court shall not specify a period under subsection (1) above which—

(a) by itself, or

(b) where there have been one or more previous postponements under subsection (1) above or (4) below, when taken together with the earlier specified period or periods,

exceeds six months beginning with the date of conviction.

(4) Where the defendant appeals against his conviction, the court may, on that account—

(a) postpone making either or both of the determinations mentioned in subsection (1) above for such period as it may specify; or

(b) where it has already exercised its powers under this section to postpone, extend the specified period.

(5) A postponement or extension under subsection (1) or (4) above may be made—

(a) on application by the defendant or the prosecutor; or

(b) by the court of its own motion.

(6) Unless the court is satisfied that there are exceptional circumstances, any postponement or extension under subsection (4) above shall not exceed the period ending three months after the date on which the appeal is determined or otherwise disposed of.

(7) Where the court exercises its power under subsection (1) or (4) above, it may nevertheless proceed to sentence, or otherwise deal with, the defendant in respect of the relevant offence or any of the relevant offences.

(8) Where the court has so proceeded, section 2 of this Act shall have effect as if—

(a) in subsection (4), the words “before sentencing or otherwise dealing with him in respect of the offence or, as the case may be, any of the offences concerned” were omitted; and

(b) in subsection (5)(c), after “determining” there were inserted “in relation to any offence in respect of which he has not been sentenced or otherwise dealt with”.

(9) In sentencing, or otherwise dealing with, the defendant in respect of the relevant offence or any of the relevant offences at any time during the specified period, the court shall not—

(a) impose any fine on him; or

(b) make any such order as is mentioned in section 2(5)(b)(ii) or (iii) of this Act.

(10) Where the court has sentenced the defendant under subsection (7) above during the specified period it may, after the end of that period, vary the sentence by imposing a fine or making any such order as is mentioned in section 2(5)(b)(ii) or (iii) of this Act, so long as it does so within a period corresponding to that allowed by section 47(2) or (3) of the Supreme[1981 c. 54.] Court Act 1981 (time allowed for varying a sentence) but beginning with the end of the specified period.

(11) In this section—

• “the date of conviction” means—

  (a)

  the date on which the defendant was convicted; or

  (b)

  where he appeared to be sentenced in respect of more than one conviction, and those convictions were not all on the same date, the date of the latest of those convictions; and

• “the relevant offence” means the drug trafficking offence in respect of which the defendant appears (as mentioned in section 2(1) of this Act) before the court;

and references to an appeal include references to an application under section 111 of the Magistrates'[1980 c. 43.] Courts Act 1980 (statement of case by magistrates' court).