Section 53, THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACTS, 1965

(1) Subject to subsection (2), proceedings for the trial of any person, who is not a citizen of Sierra Leone for anoffence committed within the territorial sea of Sierra Leone, shall not be instituted in any court except with the consent of the Attorney- General and upon his certificate that it is expedient that such proceedings should be instituted. (2) (a) Proceedings before a Magistrate previous to the committal of an offender for trial or to the determination of the Magistrate that the offender is to be put on trial, shall not be deemed proceedings for the trial of the offence committed by such offender for the purposes of the said consent and certificate under this section. (b) It shall not be necessary to aver in any information or indictment that the certificate of the Attorney-General required by this section has been given; and the fact of the same having been given shall be presumed unless disputed by the defendant at the trial; and the production of a document purporting to be signed by the Attorney-General and containing such consent and certificate shall be sufficient evidence of the consent and certificate required by this section. (3) This section shall not prejudice or affect the trial of any act of piracy as defined by the law of nations. COMPENSATION AND COSTS