86Compensation order

86 Compensation order S. 86(1) amended by Nos 81/1996 s. 74(1)(a)(i)(ii), 54/2000 s. 22(2)(a)(i)(ii), substituted by No. 49/2012 s. 7(1). (1) If a court finds a person guilty of, or convicts a person of, an offence it may order the offender to pay to a person who has suffered loss or destruction of, or damage to, property as a result of the offence any compensation (not exceeding the value of the property lost, destroyed or damaged) that the court thinks fit. S. 86(1A) inserted by No. 49/2012 s. 7(1). (1A) An order under subsection (1) may be made— (a) on the application of a person suffering loss or destruction of, or damage to, property as a result of the offence; or (b) subject to subsection (1B)—on the court's own motion. S. 86(1B) inserted by No. 49/2012 s. 7(1). (1B) A court may only make an order under subsection (1) on its own motion if— (a) the person in whose favour the order is to be made does not oppose the order being made; and (b) the court has given the offender the opportunity to be heard in respect of the order. (2) If a court decides to make an order under subsection (1) it may in determining the amount and method of payment of the compensation take into account, as far as practicable, the financial circumstances of the offender and the nature of the burden that its payment will impose. (3) A court is not prevented from making an order under subsection (1) only because it has been unable to find out the financial circumstances of the offender. (4) In making an order under subsection (1) the court may direct that the compensation be paid by instalments and that in default of payment of any one instalment the whole of the compensation remaining unpaid shall become due and payable. S. 86(5) amended by No. 49/2012 s. 7(2)(a). (5) An application under subsection (1A)(a)— S. 86(5)(a) amended by Nos 81/1996 s. 74(1)(b), 54/2000 s. 22(2)(b), 49/2012 s. 7(2)(b). (a) must be made as soon as practicable after the offender is found guilty, or convicted, of the offence; and S. 86(5)(b) amended by No. 49/2012 s. 7(2)(c)(i). (b) may be made— S. 86(5)(b)(i) amended by No. 49/2012 s. 7(2)(c)(ii). (i) by the person seeking compensation; or S. 86(5)(b)(ii) amended by No. 69/1997 s. 10(a)–(c). (ii) on that person's behalf by the Director of Public Prosecutions or (if the sentencing court was the Magistrates' Court) the informant or police prosecutor. (6) Nothing in subsection (5)(b)(ii) requires the Director of Public Prosecutions or the informant or police prosecutor (as the case requires) to make an application on behalf of a person. S. 86(6A) inserted by No. 19/1999 s. 10, repealed by No. 54/2000 s. 22(2)(c). S. 86(7) amended by No. 49/2012 s. 7(3). (7) In determining whether or not an order under subsection (1) should be made and, if so, the amount payable under the order— (a) a finding of any fact made by a court in a proceeding for the offence is evidence and, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, proof of that fact; and (b) the finding may be proved by production of a document under the seal of the court from which the finding appears. (8) A court must not exercise the powers conferred by this section unless in the opinion of the court the relevant facts sufficiently appear from evidence given at the hearing of the charge or from the available documents, together with admissions made by or on behalf of any person in connection with the proposed exercise of the powers. (9) In subsection (8) ***the available documents*** means— (a) any written statements or admissions which were made for use, and would have been admissible, as evidence on the hearing of the charge; or S. 86(9)(b) substituted by No. 68/2009 s. 97(Sch. item 110.66). S. 86(9)(c) amended by No. 19/1999 s. 11, repealed by No. 68/2009 s. 97(Sch. item 110.66). S. 86(9)(d) inserted by No. 19/1999 s. 11, amended by Nos 54/2000 s. 22(2)(d), 49/2012 s. 7(4)(a). (d) any victim impact statement made to the court for the purpose of assisting it in determining sentence; or S. 86(9)(e) inserted by No. 49/2012 s. 7(4)(b). (e) any other documentary evidence acceptable to the court of— (i) loss or destruction of, or damage to, property suffered by a person as a result of the offence; or (ii) the amount of the loss suffered or the expense incurred as a result of that destruction or damage. S. 86(9A)–(9C) inserted by No. 81/1996 s. 74(2), repealed by No. 54/2000 s. 22(2)(e). S. 86(9D) inserted by No. 19/1999 s. 12(2). (9D) Despite any rule of law or practice to the contrary or any provision to the contrary made by or under any other Act, each party to a proceeding under this section must bear their own costs of the proceeding unless the court otherwise determines. S. 86(10) amended by Nos 81/1996 s. 74(3), 54/2000 s. 22(2)(f). (10) Nothing in this section takes away from, or affects the right of, any person to recover damages for, or to be indemnified against, any loss, destruction or damage so far as it is not satisfied by payment or recovery of compensation under this section. (11) References in this section to property include references to a motor vehicle. S. 87 amended by Nos 108/1997 s. 156(g), 19/1999 s. 12(3), 68/2010 s. 70(3).