Miscellaneous
9 Offence of agreeing to indemnify sureties in criminal proceedings.
(1)
If a person agrees with another to indemnify that other against any liability which that other may incur as a surety to secure the surrender to custody of a person accused or convicted of or under arrest for an offence, he and that other person shall be guilty of an offence.
(2)
An offence under subsection (1) above is committed whether the agreement is made before or after the person to be indemnified becomes a surety and whether or not he becomes a surety and whether the agreement contemplates compensation in money or in money’s worth.
(3)
Where a magistrates’ court convicts a person of an offence under subsection (1) above the court may, if it thinks—
(a)
that the circumstances of the offence are such that greater punishment should be inflicted for that offence than the court has power to inflict, or
(b)
in a case where it F1sends that person for trial to the Crown Court for another offence, that it would be appropriate for him to be dealt with for the offence under subsection (1) above by the court before which he is tried for the other offence,
commit him in custody or on bail to the Crown Court for sentence.
(4)
A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) above shall be liable—
(a)
on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to a fine not exceeding £400 or to both; or
(b)
on conviction on indictment or if sentenced by the Crown Court on committal for sentence under subsection (3) above, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to a fine or to both.
(5)
No proceedings for an offence under subsection (1) above shall be instituted except by or with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions.