Article 7 Application for forfeiture of detained propertyI1

An application under section 303O(1) of the Act for the forfeiture of detained property must be made in writing and sent to the court to which applications for the continued detention of the property under section 303L(4) of the Act have been sent.

Where no applications in respect of the property have been made under section 303L(4) of the Act, the application shall be sent to—

The applicant must send a copy of the application to every person to whom notice of an order made under section 303L(1) of the Act in respect of the detained property has been given and to any other person identified by the court as being affected by the application.

The court must fix a date for a directions hearing, which, unless directed otherwise, shall not be earlier than seven days from the date on which it is fixed, and must notify that date to the applicant and to every person to whom a copy of the application is required to be sent under paragraph (3).

At the directions hearing, the court may give directions relating to the management of the proceedings, including directions as to the date for the hearing of the application.

If neither the person from whom the property was seized, nor any other person who is affected by the detention of the property, seeks to contest the application, the court may decide the application at the directions hearing.

A copy of an order for the forfeiture of detained property under any of sections 303O(3) or 303R(7) of the Act must be given by the court to every person to whom notice of an order made under section 303L(1) of the Act in respect of the detained property has been given and to any other person known to be affected by the order.