(1) Where a person absconds in connection with a criminal conduct committed after the coming into force of this Act, the Director of Public Prosecutions may apply to the Court for a forfeiture order under section 16 in respect of any tainted property. (Amended by Act 4 of 2010)
(2) For the purposes of this section, a person is considered to have absconded in connection with a criminal conduct if— (Amended by Act 4 of 2010)
(a) an information is laid alleging the commission of the offence by the person;
(b) a warrant for the arrest of the person is issued in relation to that information; and
(c) reasonable attempts to arrest the person under the warrant are unsuccessful during the period of 6 months commencing on the day the warrant was issued,
and the person is considered to have so absconded on the last day of that period of 6 months.
(3) Where the Director of Public Prosecution applies under this section for a forfeiture order against any tainted property the Court shall, before hearing the application—
(a) require notice of the application to be given to any person who, in the opinion of the Court appears to have an interest in the property;
(b) direct notice of the application to be published in the Gazette and in a newspaper published and circulating in Saint Lucia containing such particulars and for so long as the Court may require.