Section 44 Obstruction of investigations.
United Kingdom
A person who knows or suspects that an investigation is being or is likely to be carried out—
under section 41 above; or
into a suspected contravention of section 3 or 35 above,
shall be guilty of an offence if he falsifies, conceals, destroys or otherwise disposes of, or causes or permits the falsification, concealment, destruction or disposal of, documents which he knows or suspects are or would be relevant to such an investigation unless he proves that he had no intention of concealing facts disclosed by the documents from persons carrying out such an investigation.
A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—
on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine or to both;
on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both.
Notes on the whole Act
Textual amendments
- F1
Act repealed (1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/3649, arts. 1, 3(1)(d)
Act continued (with modifications) (1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/2967, arts. 1(2), 9(1), Sch. 1 Pt. 1; S.I. 2001/3538 (as amended (1.4.2013) by S.I. 2013/472, arts. 1(1), 3, Sch. 2 para. 56(h)(i)); and specified provisions of Act applied, extended and amended (1.4.2003) so far as still in force by 2001 c. 16, ss. 50, 52-54, 57(1)(j)(4), 68, 138(2), Sch. 1 para. 43, Sch. 2 para. 16(2)(d); S.I. 2003/708, art. 2