Commentary on Sections Interpretation Section 143: Conduct and benefit
222.Section 143 defines criminal conduct as any conduct constituting an offence in Scotland or, which (if it took place elsewhere in the United Kingdom or abroad) would constitute an offence if it had occurred in Scotland. The restriction of the scope of confiscation under earlier confiscation legislation to the proceeds of drug trafficking, other indictable offences and certain summary offences is thus abolished. Under the Act, the court that makes a confiscation order will only need to consider whether the accused has benefited from any conduct which is or would be contrary to the criminal law of Scotland. Section 143 also defines “general criminal conduct” and “particular criminal conduct” (for which, see the note on section 92).
223.Section 143 also provides that a person benefits from criminal conduct if he obtains property as a result of or in connection with the conduct. This unites in one new provision two similar but not identical definitions in the legislation relating to drug trafficking and that relating to other offences.