The Proceeds of Crime (Northern Ireland) Order 1996

Provision of information by the defendant

16.—(1) Where the prosecution has asked the court to proceed under Article 8(1)(a), or the court is proceeding under Article 8(1)(b), or is considering whether so to proceed for the purpose of obtaining information to assist it in carrying out its functions under this Order, the court may at any time order the defendant to give it such information as may be specified in the order.

(2) An order under paragraph (1) may require all, or any specified part, of the required information to be given to the court in such manner, and before such date, as may be specified in the order.

(3) Crown Court rules or magistrates' courts rules may make provision as to the maximum or minimum period that may be allowed under paragraph (2).

(4) If the defendant fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with any order under this Article, the court may draw such inference from that failure as it considers appropriate.

(5) Where the prosecution accepts to any extent any allegation made by the defendant in giving to the court information required by an order under this Article, the court may treat that acceptance as conclusive of the matter to which it relates.

(6) For the purposes of this Article, an allegation may be accepted in such manner as may be prescribed by Crown Court rules or magistrates' courts rules or as the court may direct.