Law No. (6) of 2020 amends the Criminal Procedure Code in Qatar, focusing on international judicial cooperation and investigative powers. It updates articles related to mutual legal assistance, extradition, and introduces provisions for undercover operations in cases of money laundering and terrorism financing. The law aims to enhance the effectiveness of criminal investigations and cross-border collaboration.
Key requirements
- Qatari judicial authorities must cooperate with foreign and international judicial authorities in criminal matters, subject to reciprocity and applicable international agreements.
- Requests for mutual legal assistance from foreign authorities must be submitted to the Public Prosecutor in Arabic, including details of the requesting authority, facts, applicable legal texts, and identities of persons in question.
- The Public Prosecutor can authorize undercover operations for investigating money laundering, predicate offenses, and terrorism financing, including the use of assumed identities.
- Extradition is permissible if the crime is a felony or misdemeanor punishable by at least one year imprisonment in both Qatar and the requesting country, or if the person is sentenced to at least six months imprisonment.
Applies to: Judicial authorities in the State of Qatar, Public Prosecutor, Courts