351.1
English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for
information purposes only and has no legal force.
Federal Act
on International Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters
(Mutual Assistance Act, IMAC)
of 20 March 1981 (Status as of 1 March 2019)
The Federal Assembly of the Swiss Confederation,
based on Articles 54 para. 1 and 173 para. 2 of the Federal Constitution1,2
and having considered the Dispatch of the Federal Council of 8 March 19763,
decrees:
Part One
Chapter 1
Section 1
General Provisions
Scope of Application
Subject and Limits of Cooperation
Art. 1
Subject matter
Unless other federal acts or international agreements provide otherwise, this Act shall govern
all procedures of international cooperation in criminal matters, and in particular:4
1
2
a.
the extradition of persons who are the subject of criminal prosecution or have been
convicted (Part Two);
b.
assistance aimed at supporting criminal proceedings abroad (Part Three);
c.
the transfer of proceedings and punishment of offences (Part Four);
d.
the execution of foreign criminal judgments (Part Five).
…5
This Act applies only to criminal matters in which recourse to the courts is permitted under
the law of the requesting State.
3
4
This Act confers no right to international cooperation in criminal matters.
Art. 1a6
Limitation of cooperation
In the application of this Act, Swiss sovereignty, security, public order or similar essential
interests must be taken into account.
AS 1982 846
1
SR 101
2
Amended by No I 3 of the FA of 1 Oct. 2010 on the Coordination of Asylum and Extradition Procedures, in force since 1 April 2011 (AS 2011 925; BBl 2010 1467).
3
BBl 1976 II 444
4
Amended by Art. 59 No 1 of the FA of 22 June 2001 on Cooperation with the International Criminal
Court, in force since 1 July 2002 (AS 2002 1493; BBl 2001 391).
5
Repealed by No I of the FA of 4 Oct. 1996, with effect from 1 Feb. 1997
(AS 1997 114; BBl 1995 III 1).
6
Inserted by No I of the FA of 4 Oct. 1996, in force since 1 Feb. 1997 (AS 1997 114; BBl 1995 III 1).
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