Interim attachment: effects
New section 9J – Unlawful acts after interim attachment
544.Section 9J applies the provisions of section 21 (except subsections (3) and (15)) of the 2002 Act (what constitutes an unlawful act after an attachment has been executed) to interim attachment, with relevant modifications.
545.Section 21 prohibits the removal, sale, gifting or other disposal of attached articles and their wilful destruction or damage. To do so is in breach of the attachment and may be dealt with as a contempt of court. Contempt of court is punishable by any of, or a combination of, admonition, fine and, in extreme cases, imprisonment or detention. Section 21(7) requires the debtor to give notification to the creditor and the officer if an attached article is stolen and of any insurance claim which the debtor intends to make. Section 21(10) provides that, where attached articles have been damaged, destroyed or stolen, the court may order that others be attached. Damaged articles may, on the authority of the court, be revalued. Section 21(11) to (14) makes provision for a sum of money to be consigned into court in circumstances where an article is made unavailable (by being moved, damaged, lost, stolen or sold) by the debtor or any third party who knows the article is attached.