Commentary on Sections Confiscation orders Section 98: Disposal of family home
166.Section 98 provides some protection in relation to the accused’s interest in his family home. The section applies where a confiscation order has been made and the prosecution has not satisfied the court that the person’s interest in his family home has been acquired as a benefit of his criminal conduct. It replicates existing provisions in the Proceeds of Crime (Scotland Act 1995. An administrator who has been appointed to ingather the estate of the accused in terms of the confiscation order cannot dispose of the family home, as defined in subsection (5), without the relevant consent, again as defined in subsection (5). Where no consent is forthcoming, he must apply to the court for authority to do so. Once the court has taken into consideration all the circumstances of the case, it may refuse to agree to the disposal of the family home or postpone the application to dispose of the family home for up to 12 months.