22.—(1) For the purposes of this Act, a person shall be taken to be convicted of a drug trafficking offence or a serious offence, as the case may be, if the person absconds in connection with the drug trafficking offence or the serious offence, as the case may be, and any reference in Part II to the defendant shall include reference to such a person.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), a person shall be taken to abscond in connection with a drug trafficking offence if whether before or after the commencement of this Act —
(a)
investigations for a drug trafficking offence have been commenced against the person; and
(b)
(i)
the person dies before proceedings in respect of the offence were instituted, or if such proceedings were instituted, the person dies before he is convicted; or
(ii)
at the end of the period of 6 months from the date on which investigations referred to in paragraph (a) were commenced against him, the person cannot be found, apprehended or extradited.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (1), a person shall be taken to abscond in connection with a serious offence if, whether before or after the date of commencement of the Drug Trafficking (Confiscation of Benefits) (Amendment) Act 1999 —
(a)
investigations for a serious offence have been commenced against the person; and
(b)
the person —
(i)
dies before proceedings in respect of the offence were instituted, or if such proceedings were instituted, the person dies before he is convicted; or
(ii)
at the end of the period of 6 months from the date on which the investigations referred to in paragraph (a) were commenced against him, cannot be found, apprehended or extradited.