Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991

Offences

4 (1) A person is guilty of an offence if without reasonable excuse he fails to comply with a requirement imposed on him under paragraph 2 above.

(2) A person is guilty of an offence if, in purported compliance with such a requirement, he makes a statement which he knows to be false or misleading in a material particular or recklessly makes a statement which is false or misleading in a material particular.

(3) A person who—

(a) knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that an investigation by an authorised investigator is being carried out or is likely to be carried out by virtue of this Schedule; and

(b) falsifies, conceals, destroys or otherwise disposes of, or causes or permits the falsification, concealment, destruction or disposal of, documents which he knows or has reasonable cause to suspect are or would be relevant to such an investigation,

is guilty of an offence unless he proves that he had no intention of concealing the facts disclosed by the document from any person carrying out such an investigation.

(4) A person guilty of an offence under sub-paragraph (1) or (2) above is liable—

(a) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or a fine or both;

(b) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or both.

(5) A person guilty of an offence under sub-paragraph (3) above is liable—

(a) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years or a fine or both;

(b) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or both.