PART 4INVESTIGATORY POWERS OF WRA
CHAPTER 6OFFENCES RELATING TO INFORMATION NOTICES
I1115Offence of concealing etc. documents following notification
1
A person commits an offence if the person conceals, destroys or otherwise disposes of (or arranges for the concealment, destruction or disposal of) a document after WRA has told the person that—
a
a document is to be, or is likely to be, the subject of an information notice addressed to that person (see section 88(3)(b)), and
b
WRA intends to seek the approval of the tribunal for the issuing of the information notice (see section 87(2)(b)) or is required to seek such approval (see sections 86, 89(1)(d) and 92(1)).
2
A person does not commit an offence under subsection (1) if the person conceals, destroys or otherwise disposes of the document after—
a
the end of the period of 6 months beginning with the day on which WRA told the person (or last told the person), or
b
an information notice has been issued requiring the person to produce the document.
3
It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (1) to show that the person had a reasonable excuse for concealing, destroying or otherwise disposing of (or for arranging for the concealment, destruction or disposal of) the document.
4
A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable—
a
on summary conviction, to a fine;
b
on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to a fine (or both).