(1) Protection (in this section referred to as a 'marker') may be afforded to an applicant for leniency under section 15AI or 15AJ by, and at the discretion of, the competent authority for a specified period whereby the applicant is given time to gather necessary information and evidence in order to meet the relevant evidential threshold for leniency, in consequence of which the applicant retains his or her place in the queue of applicants for leniency determined by valid chronological application.

(2)

(a) An undertaking that intends to make an application for immunity may apply to a competent authority for a marker.