Fiches Belges

Section 179. Searches (1) A search is an investigative action whose content is the search by force of premises, terrain, vehicles, and individual persons for the purpose of finding and removing the object being sought, if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the object being sought is located in the site of the search. (2) A search shall be conducted for the purpose of finding objects, documents, corpses, or persons being sought that are significant in criminal proceedings.

Section 179 - 185 of the Criminal Procedure Law;

The Ministry of Interior (*) - during pre-trial investigation until prosecution ; Ciekurkalna 1st line 1, k-2 Riga, LV-1026 Latvia Phone: +371 67219263 Fax: +371 67829686 E-mail: ssp@vp.gov.lv. Website : www.iem.gov.lv General Prosecutors office - during pre-trial investigation until submitting the case to the court; O. Kalpaka blvd 6, Riga, LV - 1801, Latvia Fax: 371.67.212231 Tel.: 371.67.320085; dkssd@lrp.gov.lv The Ministry of Justice - during the trial. Brivibas blvd 36, Riga, LV - 1536, Latvia Fax: +371 67285575 Tel.: +371 67280437; +371 67282607; pasts@tm.gov.lv

Latvian/English (for the execution of urgent request/decision the priority is the Latvian language)

A competent authority of Latvia takes a decision to recognise and execute EIO as soon as possible, however not later than within 30 days after receipt of the EIO, if translation is not required. If in a EIO it is requested to perform a procedural action in order to prevent destruction, hiding or damaging of such items which could be used as evidence (temporary measure), a competent authority of Latvia takes a decision where possible, immediately, however not later than within 24 hours from the moment of receipt of EIO. The Ministry of Justice within 10 days from the day of receipt of a EIO (if the amount of materials is extremely large - within 30 days) verifies materials and sends the materials after the verification to the district (city) court for taking a decision to recognise and execute the EIO in Latvia.

A search shall be conducted in the presence of the person at whose site the search takes place, or in the presence of a family member of legal age of such person.