PART 2

THE NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY COMMISSIONER FOR STANDARDS

Investigatory powers of the Commissioner

Offences
31
1
Subject to section 28(3), a person to whom a notice has been given under section 29(1) who—
a
refuses or fails to attend before the Commissioner as required by the notice,
b
refuses or fails, when attending before the Commissioner as required by the notice, to answer any question concerning any matter specified in the notice,
c
intentionally alters, suppresses, conceals or destroys any document required to be produced by the notice, or
d
refuses or fails to produce any such document,
is guilty of an offence.
2
Any person who refuses to take an oath when required to do so under section 30 is guilty of an offence.
3
It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (1)(a), (b) or (d) or subsection (2) to prove that the person had a reasonable excuse for the refusal or failure.
4
A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction—
a
to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale; or
b
to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 3 months.
S. 31 in operation at 17.9.2012 by S.R. 2012/334, art. 2(c)