SEC. 23. Criminal Offenses.—Any person who shall, by himself or in cooperation with another, defeat, deceive or obstruct any person in the matter of his right of examination by the Board of Accountancy, or who shall falsely rate, grade, estimate, or report upon the examination or standing of any person examined by the Board of Accountancy, or shall aid in so doing, or shall make any false representation relative thereto or concerning the person or persons examined or who shall use or furnish any special or secret information for the purpose of improving or injuring the prospects or chances of any person so examined or to be examined or receiving a certificate, shall for each offense be punished with a fine not exceeding one thousand pesos, or by imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months, or both.
Any person who shall knowingly make any material false statement in his application for examination, or who shall connive at any false statement made in any certificate which may accompany his application, or who shall make any material false statement in any certificate to accompany the application for examination of any person, or who shall impersonate any other person or permit or aid in any manner other persons to impersonate him in connection with any examination or application for examination, or who shall falsely make or forge any certificate in connection with his application, or who shall commit or attempt to commit any fraud, or violate in any manner the provisions of this Act or any regulations promulgated under the provisions hereof, or aid in so doing, shall be subject to the same penalty as in the preceding paragraph provided.
Any person who represents himself to the public as having received a certificate as provided in this Act, or shall assume to practice as Certified Public Accountant or use the abbreviated title "C.P.A." or any similar words or letters to indicate that the person using the same is a Certified Public Accountant, without having received such certified public accountant's certificate or shall assume to practice as a public accountant without having received such public accountant's certificate or having received such certificate, has been thereafter deprived of the use of the same by temporary suspension or revocation shall be punished with a fine in a sum not exceeding five thousand pesos or by imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years, or both, at the discretion of the Court, for each such offense, and each day that such person shall so practice or hold himself out as a certified public accountant shall be deemed a separate offense.
A certified public accountant or persons employed by a certified public accountant shall not be required to, and shall not disclose or divulge the contents of any communication made to him by any person employing him to examine, audit, or report on any books, records, or accounts in rendering professional service, except by express permission of the person employing him, or of the heirs, personal representatives or successors of such person, or when the security of the state so requires. Any person violating this provision shall be subject to the same penalty provided in paragraph three hereof.