The treaty will enable the countries to help each other in criminal
investigation and prosecution of crimes through mutual collaboration and
extradition of accused hiding in either of the country post committing a crime
or who is wanted in requesting country. The negotiations pertaining to the
concerned treaty initiated in 2010 and after prolonged negotiations for around
eight years, both the countries finally signed the treaty. The treaty covers
several criminal acts including but not limited to, torture and criminal acts
punishable with the death penalty.
The foregoing treaty is an outcome of serious criminal matters wherein the
accused leave the country post committing an offence in either of the states. It
is a move that could pave the way for the forceful return of the famous Gupta
Brothers who has been declared as Fugitive from Justice by South African
Court.
The Gupta Brothers Case
The Indian brothers, who are among one of the richest South Africans are under
investigation for alleged corruption. A public inquiry was initiated against
them for corruption along with the scandal-tainted erstwhile president of South
Africa, Jacob Zuma. The investigations were initiated to gather evidence which
will prove that the former president organized pillage of government-owned
coffers and allowed them to select ministers which are known as
State Capture.
A minister has given testimony against the parties involved in the concerned
scandal. The brothers fled to UAE in early 2018 as criminal investigations for
alleged corruption was accelerated.
It is believed that international criminal justice strikes for a balance between
respecting a states' sovereignty and integrity of the territory. The correct and
adequate procedure for a state (the requesting country) is to request another
state (the requested states) for mutual collaboration and cooperation for mutual
assistance in legal matters in gathering evidence and extradition of an accused.
A perpetrator can be extradited if the requesting state complies with the
extradition agreement and the domestic laws of the requested country. Thus, in
the present circumstances, the UAE courts will determine, whether the request
for extraditing Gupta brothers should be considered or not on the grounds if it
complies with the extradition treaty as well as the domestic laws. The treaty
signed between the two states determine the types of offences in which
extradition will be possible and the instances under which the requested state
can refuse it.
The Treaty Itself
The preamble of the treaty reaffirms the parties' concerns towards the magnitude
of the offences such as international terrorism and other crimes of serious
nature. It further states that the parties agree to extradite persons hiding in
their country who have been charged under or are convicted of an offence for
which they can be extradited. Such offences are certainly punished under the
domestic laws of both the countries, by way of imprisonment for a period not
exceeding 1 (one) year or for a more serious penalty.
In addition, the treaty empowers the requesting country to seek extradition in
the cases involving violation of laws pertaining to taxation, customs duty, and
foreign exchange. In such cases, the extradition will be granted in if the
requested country do not have the same laws or laws for such offences. However,
the request for extradition will be rejected by either country if the offenses
committed by the accused is of political nature or any other offense which is in
violation to the law of military of either country.
An extradition treaty makes it easier for countries to extradite people who are
hiding in another country. However, South Africa does not require an extradition
treaty with any country as there is a specific extradition act and international
mechanism which allows them to extradite people who are hiding in their state.
It is pertinent to highlight that the treaty will be applied retrospectively
with particular reference to the Gupta Brothers' case accused of collaboration
with a former president of South Africa and other senior-level government
officials for corruption and state capture. With the treaty in place, the
proceedings for the concerned case can begin, and the accused can be brought in
the country to face criminal charges.
The South African Ministry has also received eight other requests for mutual
collaboration with other countries in criminal matters and obtaining shreds of
evidence for criminal proceedings.
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