Lesotho
Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism Act, 2018
Act 3 of 2018
- Published in Government Gazette 6 on 26 January 2018
- Commenced on 26 January 2018
- [This is the version of this document from 26 January 2018.]
Part I – Preliminary
1. Citation and commencement
This Act may be cited as the Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism Act, 2018 and shall come into operation on the date of publication in the Gazette.2. Interpretation
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—“accountable institution” has the meaning assigned to it under the Anti-Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act, 200811;“aircraft in flight” means an aircraft at any time from the moment when all its external doors are closed following embarking until the moment when any such door is opened for disembarkation; while in the case of forced landing the flight shall be deemed to continue until the Competent Authorities take over the responsibility for the aircraft, persons and property on board;“aircraft in service” means an aircraft from the beginning of the preflight preparation of the aircraft by ground personnel or by the crew for a specific flight until twenty-four hours after any landing, and the period of service may extend for the entire period during which the aircraft is in flight;“biological, chemical and nuclear (BCN) weapons” means—(a)biological weapons which are—(i)microbial or other agents, or toxins whatever their origin or method of production, of types and in quantities that have no justification for prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purposes; or(ii)weapons, equipment or means of delivery designed to use such agents or toxins for hostile purposes or in armed conflict;(b)chemical weapons which are, together or separately—(i)toxic chemicals and their precursors, except where intended for—(aa)industrial, agricultural, research, medical, pharmaceutical or other peaceful purposes; or(bb)protective purposes, namely those purposes directly related to protection against toxic chemicals and to protection against chemical weapons; or(cc)military purposes not connected with the use of chemical weapons and not dependent on the use of the toxic properties of chemicals as a method of warfare; or(dd)law enforcement including domestic riot control purposes, as long as the types and quantities are consistent with such purposes;(ii)munitions and devices specifically designed to cause death or other harm through the toxic properties or those toxic chemical specified in paragraph (i), which would be released as a result of the employment of such munitions and devices;(iii)any equipment specifically designed for use directly in connection with the employment of munitions and devices specified in paragraph (ii);(c)nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosive devices or means of delivery designed to use weapons and devices for hostile purposes or in armed conflict;“communication” means a communication received or transmitted by post or a telegraphic, telephonic or other communication received or transmitted by electricity, magnetism or other means;“Consolidated List” means the list of individuals, groups, undertakings and entities subject to the sanctions and measures imposed by the United Nations Security Council;“convention offence” means an offence, created in fulfillment of the international obligation of Lesotho in terms of instruments dealing with terrorist and related acts;“counter terrorism convention” means any of the instruments set out in the Schedule;“Court” means the High Court of Lesotho;“entity” includes an entity, a group, trust, partnership, fund, a company or organisation or other legal person;“explosive or other lethal device” means—(a)an explosive or incendiary weapon or device which is designed or manufactured, or has the capability, to cause death, serious bodily injury or substantial material damage; or(b)a weapon or device that is designed or has the capability to cause death, serious bodily injury of substantial material damage through the release, dissemination or impact of toxic chemicals, biological agents, toxins or similar substances or radiation or radioactive materials;“fixed platform” means an artificial island, installation or structure permanently attached to the sea-bed for the purpose of exploration or exploitation of resources or for other economic purposes;“funds” includes property or assets of every kind, whether corporeal or incorporeal, tangible or intangible, movable or immovable however acquired, and legal documents or instruments in any form, including electronic or digital evidencing title to or interest in such assets;“forfeiture order” means an order applied for under sections 49 and 51;“IAEA” means the International Atomic Energy Agency; “internationally protected person” means—(a)a Head of State, including any member of a collegial body performing the functions of a Head of State under the constitution of the State concerned, a head of Government or a Minister of Foreign Affairs, whenever such person is in a foreign State, as well as members of his family who accompany him;(b)any representative or official of a State or any official or agent of an international organization of an intergovernmental character who, at the time when and in the place where a crime against him, his official premises, his private accommodation or his means of transport is committed, is entitled pursuant to international law to special protection from any attack on his person, freedom or dignity, as well as members of his family forming part of his household;“Minister” means the Minister responsible for home affairs;“operator” in relation to an aircraft, means the owner or person for the time being in charge or command or control of the aircraft;“property” means proceeds from the commission of a terrorist act, property which has been, is being, or is likely to be used to commit a terrorist act, property which has been, is being or is likely to be used by a terrorist group, or property owned or controlled by or on behalf of a terrorist group or property which has been collected for the purpose of providing support to a terrorist group or funding a terrorist act; and“specified entity” means an entity or person declared as such by the Minister under section 34;“terrorist act” means an offence provided for under Chapter 2 of Part II or an act or omission which—(a)endangers the life of another person;(b)involves death or serious bodily injury to a person;(c)violates physical integrity of freedom of a person;(d)involves damage to national key points, property, natural resource or the environmental cultural heritage, whether public or private;(e)creates a serious risk to the health or safety of the public or a section of a public;(f)involves the use of weapons;(g)involves introducing into environment, distributing or exposing the public to any—(i)dangerous, hazardous, radioactive or harmful substance;(ii)toxic chemical;(iii)microbial or other biological agent or toxin;(h)involves serious disruption to any system or the provision of services directly related to essential infrastructure;(i)involves the manufacture, acquisition, possession, development, transportation, transfer and use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery, and is carried out with the aim of, or by its nature and context is reasonably regarded as being aimed at—(i)intimidating or causing fear among members of the public or section of the public;(ii)compelling a government or an international organisation to do, or refrain from doing, any act;(iii)advancing a political, ideological, religious, or other cause, but does not include an act or omission which—(aa)is committed as part of an advocacy, protest, demonstration, dissent or industrial action and is not intended to result in any harm mentioned in paragraph (b), (c), (e) or (f); or(bb)occurs in a situation of armed conflict and is, at the time and in the place it occurred, in accordance with rules of international law applicable to the conflict;“weapon” includes a firearm, explosive, chemical, biological or nuclear weapon.3. Scope of application
The Court shall have jurisdiction over an act or omission which constitutes an offence under this Act regardless of whether the act or omission constituting an offence took place inside or outside Lesotho if—Part II – Offences
Chapter 1
Terrorist acts and offences associated or connected with terrorist acts
4. Prohibition of terrorist act
5. Attempt, threat and participation in commission of terrorist act
6. Offences relating to hoaxes
7. Soliciting and giving of support to terrorist group or for the commission of terrorist acts
8. Offences associated or connected with financing of terrorist acts
9. Terrorist financing offence
10. Harbouring and concealment of persons suspected of committing terrorist acts
11. Membership of terrorist group
12. Meetings in support of terrorist group
13. Duty to disclose information on terrorist act
14. Duty to disclose information relating to property of terrorist group or property used for commission of offences under this Act
15. Obstruction of investigation
16. Obstruction of justice
17. Retaliation against witnesses
A person who does or omits to do an act against a person or a member of the family of a person in retaliation for the person having given information or evidence under this Act commits an offence and is liable, on conviction, to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 60 years or a fine not exceeding 100,000,000.00 Maloti or both.18. Intimidation
A person who, for the purpose of compelling another person—Chapter 2
Convention offences
19. Hostage taking
20. Hijacking of aircraft
A person on board an aircraft in flight who unlawfully, by the use of force or by threat or any other form of intimidation, seizes the aircraft or exercise control of it commits an offence and is liable, on conviction, to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 60 years or a fine not exceeding 100,000,000.00 Maloti or both.21. Destroying, damaging or endangering the safety of aircraft
22. Other acts endangering or likely to endanger the safety of aircraft
23. Acts of violence at airport
A person who unlawfully and intentionally, using any device, substance or weapon—24. Endangering the safety of ships and fixed platform
25. Use and discharge of BCN weapons and other substances from a ship or fixed platform
26. Transportation of BCN weapons and other substances on board a ship
27. Transportation of certain offenders on board ships
A person who transports another person on board a ship, knowing that the person has committed an act that constitutes an offence set out in this Act, and intending to assist that person to evade criminal prosecution, commits an offence and is, on conviction, liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 60 years or a fine not exceeding 100,000,000.00 Maloti or both.28. Offences against internationally protected persons
29. Terrorist bombings
30. Handling of radioactive or nuclear material and devices
31. Use of radioactive or nuclear material
32. Offences relating to nuclear material and nuclear facilities
A person who, without lawful authority—33. Offences relating to unmarked plastic explosives
Part III – Specified entities
34. Declaration of specified entity or person
35. Orders for the implementation of measures to give effect to resolutions of the Security Council
Where the Security Council of the United Nations decides, in pursuance of Article 41 of the Charter of the United Nations, on the measures to be employed to give effect to any of its decisions and call upon Government of Lesotho to apply those measures, the Minister may, by regulations published in the Gazette, make such provision as may appear to him to be necessary or expedient to enable those measures to be effectively applied.Part IV – Information sharing, extradition and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters
36. Exchange of information relating to terrorist groups and terrorist acts
37. Extradition
38. Existing extradition treaties deemed to include treaty offences as extraditable offences
Where Lesotho is a party, or becomes a party to, an international treaty listed in the Schedule, the international treaty shall be deemed, for the purposes of the Fugitives Offenders Act, to include a provision for extradition in respect of offences falling within the scope of the international treaty set out in the Schedule.39. International treaty to be used as basis for extradition
Where Lesotho is a party or becomes a party to an international treaty listed in the Schedule, and there is no an extradition arrangement between the Government of Lesotho and another state which is a party to the treaty, the Minister may, by order published in the Gazette, treat the international treaty, for the purposes of the Fugitives Offenders Act, as an extradition arrangement between Government of Lesotho and that state, in respect of offences falling within the scope of that international treaty.40. Applicability of general provisions and laws and treaties in force on legal mutual assistance
The conditions and procedures relating to mutual legal assistance with regard to the offences in this Act are regulated by the relevant applicable laws and treaties in force in Lesotho.41. Transfer of detained persons for purposes of identification, testimony, etc. to a foreign State
42. Transfer of detained persons for purposes of identification, testimony, etc. to Lesotho
43. Prohibition to refuse a request for assistance on the ground of bank secrecy
For the purpose of providing assistance to the Government of Lesotho or a foreign State, bank secrecy shall not be invoked as grounds to refuse a request with respect to the offence of financing of terrorist acts and terrorism related offences.44. Non-discrimination clause
Nothing imposes an obligation to extradite or provide assistance in relation to a person for any of the offences set out in this Act, if there are substantial grounds for believing that the request has been made for the purpose of prosecuting or punishing that person on account of his gender, race, religion, nationality, ethnic origin or political opinion or that compliance with the request would cause prejudice to the position of that person for any of these reasons.45. Notification to other competent or interested States
46. Offences under this Act deemed not to be offences of a political character for the purposes of extradition
Notwithstanding anything in the Fugitives Offenders Act, an offence under this Act or an offence under any Act where the act or omission constituting the offence also constitutes a terrorist act, shall for the purposes of extradition or mutual legal assistance, be deemed not to be—Part V – Seizure and forfeiture of terrorist property
47. Seizure and detention of terrorist cash etc
48. Powers of Commissioner of Police to seize property used in commission of terrorist acts
49. Orders for forfeiture of property on conviction for offences under this Act
50. Orders for seizure and restraint of property
51. Orders for forfeiture of property
52. Humanitarian exemptions
A person whose funds have been affected by a freezing order under this Act may make an application to the Court for an order permitting him access to the following—53. Exemptions for extraordinary expenses
54. Provisional measures
55. Preventive measures
56. Establishment of Fund and its management
57. Adoption and dissemination of domestic decision
58. Lifting of restrictive measures
Where an individual or entity has been subjected to listing measures on account of mistaken identity, such an individual or entity shall be able to request review of such status before the Sanctions Committee of the United Nations Security Council.59. Management of perishable or rapidly depreciating objects
60. Refusal of application for registration, and the revocation of the registration of the non-profit making organisations linked to terrorist groups
Part VI – Miscellaneous rights and powers
61. Right of communication and visit
62. Provision of information relating to passengers of vessels and aircraft, and persons entering and leaving the country
63. Power to prevent entry and order the removal of persons
64. Power to refuse refugee application
65. Adoption and dissemination of Consolidated List
The Minister shall, in consultation with the Minister responsible for foreign affairs and international relations and by notice published in the Gazette—66. Travel ban
Individuals placed on the Consolidated List shall not be allowed entry into, or transit through Lesotho unless such individuals are citizens of Lesotho.67. Exemptions on travel ban
Notwithstanding the provisions of travel ban above, such individuals should be permitted entry into or transit through Lesotho for purposes of standing trial or for purposes of extradition, or for purposes of identification, testimony or otherwise providing assistance in obtaining evidence for the investigation or prosecution of any offence under this Act.68. General penalty
A person who contravenes a provision of this Act where no penalty is provided commits an offence and is liable, on conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 60 years or a fine not exceeding 100,000,000.00 Maloti.69. Regulations
History of this document
26 January 2018 this version
Published in Government Gazette 6
Commenced