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Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2013 (Act No. 7 of 2013)

Chapter 4 : Identification and Protection of Victims of Trafficking

22. Criminal prosecution of victim of trafficking

 

(1) When deciding whether to prosecute a victim of trafficking, the prosecutor must give due consideration to whether the offence was committed as a direct result of the person’s position as a victim of trafficking.

 

(2) If, during a criminal prosecution of a person, the prosecutor on reasonable grounds suspects that that person is a victim of trafficking and that the offence was committed as a direct result of the person’s position as a victim of trafficking that prosecutor must—
(a) apply to the court for a postponement; and
(b) in the prescribed manner, refer that person to the provincial department of social development, which must conduct an assessment in terms of section 18(6) or 19(8), as the case may be.

 

(3) A letter of recognition that an adult person is a victim of trafficking or a finding by the provincial department of social development after an assessment referred to in section 18(6) that a child is a victim of trafficking serves as a ground for the withdrawal of the criminal prosecution or the discharge of the victim of trafficking if the prosecutor is satisfied that the offence was committed as a direct result of the person’s position as a victim of trafficking.

 

(4) No criminal prosecution may be instituted against a person referred to in subsection (1) or be proceeded with against a person referred to in subsection (2) without the written authorisation of the Director of Public Prosecutions having jurisdiction.