A lawful notice should not be ignored, because failure to comply can lead to further action and may be held against you later. Before attending, we review the notice to see who issued it, under what authority and what it concerns. We prepare you for the hearing, organise the documents you should take and advise on what to say and what not to volunteer. Practice on whether an advocate may sit in during questioning varies, so we raise the request formally and, where permitted, attend or wait nearby to advise. Never attend unprepared. Keep copies of everything you submit.

The Anti-Corruption Commission can require a person, and sometimes their family members, to submit a statement of their assets and liabilities in a prescribed form within a fixed period. The statement is later compared with tax returns, bank records and land records. Errors or omissions can themselves create risk. We help clients gather records, reconcile figures with their tax filings, document inheritances, gifts and loans, and explain unusual items in a clear covering note. If more time is needed, we apply for an extension before the deadline passes, not after. Accuracy matters more than speed.

Yes, through the courts. The commission may apply to a court for an order preventing a person under inquiry or investigation from travelling abroad, and immigration authorities then enforce it. These applications are often made without notice to the person affected. We check whether an order exists, obtain copies, and apply to vary or set it aside where the basis is weak, the order is unlimited in time, or travel is needed for medical treatment, family reasons or business. We can also seek permission for a specific trip. Orders can last for long periods.

First, find out exactly which order has been made, by which court, and on what grounds. Freezing and attachment orders should be proportionate and linked to the alleged proceeds of an offence. We apply to the court to vary or release orders that capture unrelated funds, and we seek permission for legitimate payments such as salaries, tax, loan instalments and living costs. For companies, we also engage with the bank so that business operations continue as far as the order allows. Delay usually makes release harder. So act promptly. Keep all bank letters.

The High Court Division can grant anticipatory bail in appropriate cases, usually for a limited period, after which the accused surrenders before the trial court and seeks regular bail. Courts look at the nature of the allegations, the evidence, the person's conduct, health and any risk of absconding or tampering. Bail in corruption and money laundering cases is not automatic, and practice changes with case law. We prepare applications with full documents and a clear account of the facts, and we plan the surrender and regular bail hearing in advance. Medical evidence can be relevant.

The 2004 Act contains a provision that required prior sanction before a case could be filed against a judge or public servant, but the High Court Division declared that requirement unconstitutional in 2014. The 2025 ordinance would have removed it formally, but that ordinance lapsed in 2026, and reform proposals are still being debated. In practice the question of sanction can still arise in particular cases, especially for older offences. We review the position for each client and raise sanction or procedural defects where they genuinely apply. The law here is unsettled. Each file is checked.

Allegations are usually made against individuals, such as directors, managers, bank officers or public officials, but a company can also face consequences, including attachment of its assets, loss of contracts, debarment from procurement and money laundering charges. Directors may be named because of their position, even if they were not personally involved. We assess each person's actual role, separate the company's defence from that of individuals where interests differ, and make sure each person who needs independent advice receives it. Insurance cover for defence costs should also be checked early. Conflicts must be managed early.

There is no reliable fixed timetable. An inquiry can be closed within months, or can move to investigation, charge sheet and trial over several years. The commission's own capacity, changes in its leadership and the pace of the Special Judge courts all affect timing. In 2026 the commission was without commissioners for a period, which slowed decisions. We monitor the file, press for closure where the evidence does not support a case, and use writ and quashing remedies where delay or the process itself becomes unlawful or oppressive. Patience and persistence both matter.