Bill 17 2023 - Prevention of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2023

[29th Septem b e r 2 0 2 3 ] Pre vention of Terorism (Amendment) 1 REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES SUPPLEMENT TO OFFICIAL GAZETTE BILL PREVENTION OF TERRORISM (AMEND\MENT) BILL, 2023 (Bill No. 17 of 2023) EXPLANATORY STATEMENT This Bill seeks to amend the Prevention of Terrorism Act to provide for the amendment of the definition of terrorist act in order to bring clarity. It is important to indicate that the offence of terrorist financing is to be addressed separately from that of a terrorist act. Dated this 26th day of September, 2023. ERROL FONSEKA MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS ——————— [29th Septem b e r 2 0 2 3 ] Pre vention of Terorism (Amendment) 2 REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES SUPPLEMENT TO OFFICIAL GAZETTE BILL PREVENTION OF TERRORISM (AMEND\MENT) BILL, 2023 (Bill No. 17 of 2023) ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS SECTIONS 1. Short title 2. Amendment of section 2 3. Amendment of section 3 4. Amendment of section 5 4. Amendment of section 12 4. Amendment of section 15 4. Amendment of section 20B 4. Amendment of section 520D [29th Septem b e r 2 0 2 3 ] Pre vention of Terorism (Amendment) 3 REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES SUPPLEMENT TO OFFICIAL GAZETTE BILL PREVENTION OF TERRORISM (AMEND\MENT) BILL, 2023 (Bill No. 17 of 2023) A BILL FOR AN ACT TO AMEND THE PREVENTION OF TERRORISM ACT, CAP. 179 IN ORDER TO BRING CLARITY TO THE DEFINITION OF “TERRORIST ACT”. ENACTED by the President and the National Assembly. Short title 1. This Act may be cited as the Prevention of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2023. [29th Septem b e r 2 0 2 3 ] Pre vention of Terorism (Amendment) 4 REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES SUPPLEMENT TO OFFICIAL GAZETTE BILL Amendment of section 2 Cap.179 2. Section 2 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act Cap.179 (hereinafter referred to as the principal Act) is hereby amended in the definition of “terrorist act” by the repeal of paragraph (ix). Amendment of section 3 Cap.179 3. Section 3 of the principal Act is amended in subsection (1)(a)(iv) by the deletion of the word “Facilitate” and the substitution of “facilitated”; Amendment of section 5 Cap.179 4. Section 5 of the principal Act is amended in subsection (3) by the deletion of the word “Terrorism” with the substitution of the word “Terrorist”. Amendment of section 12 Cap.179 5. Section 12 of the principal Act is amended in the chapeau by the deletion of the word “provides” when it first appears and substitution of the word “provide”. Amendment of section 15 Cap.179 6. Section 15 of the principal Act is amended in paragraph (a) by the deletion of the word “knowing” and substitution of the word “knowingly”. Amendment of section 20B Cap.179 7. Section 20B of the principal Act is amended by the deletion of the definitions of “biological weapons” and “chemical weapons” and substitution of the following — ““biological weapons” are — (a) microbial or other biological 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; and [29th Septem b e r 2 0 2 3 ] Pre vention of Terorism (Amendment) 5 REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES SUPPLEMENT TO OFFICIAL GAZETTE BILL (b) weapons, equipment or delivery systems specially designed to use such agents or toxins for hostile purposes or in armed conflict; “chemical weapons” means — (a) toxic chemicals and their precursors, except where intended for — (i) industrial, agricultural, research, medical, pharmaceutical or other peaceful purposes; (ii) protective purposes, namely those purposes directly related to protection against toxic chemicals and to protection against chemical weapons; (iii) 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 (iv) law enforcement including domestic riot control purposes, as long as the types and quantities are consistent with such purposes; (c) the munitions and devices, specifically designed to cause death or other harm through the toxic properties of those toxic chemicals specified in paragraph (a), which would be released as a result of the employment of such munitions and devices; and (d) any equipment specifically designed for use directly in connection with the employment of munitions and devices specified in paragraph (b), together or separately;” [29th Septem b e r 2 0 2 3 ] Pre vention of Terorism (Amendment) 6 REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES SUPPLEMENT TO OFFICIAL GAZETTE BILL Amendment of section 20D Cap.179 8. Section 20D of the principal Act is amended in — (a) subsection (3) — (i) in paragraph (ii) by the deletion of “a.” before the words “terrorist or”; (ii) in paragraph (iii) by the deletion of the letter “a” after the word “by”; (iii) in paragraph (iv) by the deletion of the letter “a” after the word “of”; (b) in subsection (3D) in paragraph (d) by the deletion of the words “on behalf. or” and substitution with the words “on behalf of or”;