§ 47 — Power to obtain information

47.—(1) An investigator who has a reasonable suspicion that any person has committed an offence under this Act may —(a)

by written notice require the person to attend at such reasonable time and at such place as may be specified by the investigator to answer any question or to provide a signed statement in writing concerning the suspected offence;

(b)

require the person —(i)

to provide any information within the person’s knowledge; or

(ii)

to produce for inspection any document or record in the person’s possession,

that the investigator believes on reasonable grounds to be connected with the suspected offence; and

(c)

retain the original copy of any document or record that the investigator believes on reasonable grounds to be connected with the suspected offence, or make or cause to be made, without payment, copies of or extracts from that document or record.

(2) Where any document or record required by an investigator is kept in electronic form, then —(a)

the power of an investigator to require that document or record to be produced for inspection under subsection (1)(b)(ii) includes the power to require a copy of that document or record to be made available for inspection in legible form; and

(b)

subsection (1)(c) applies to any copy so made available.

(3) Any copy of or extract from any document or record made under subsection (1)(c) and certified as such by the investigator is admissible as evidence in any proceedings under this Act.

(4) A person who, when required by an investigator to provide under subsection (1)(b) any information or produce any document or record, refuses or fails, without reasonable excuse, to provide the information or to produce the document or record within the time allowed by the investigator shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.

—(1) An investigator who has a reasonable suspicion that any person has committed an offence under this Act may —(a)

by written notice require the person to attend at such reasonable time and at such place as may be specified by the investigator to answer any question or to provide a signed statement in writing concerning the suspected offence;

(b)

require the person —(i)

to provide any information within the person’s knowledge; or

(ii)

to produce for inspection any document or record in the person’s possession,

that the investigator believes on reasonable grounds to be connected with the suspected offence; and

(c)

retain the original copy of any document or record that the investigator believes on reasonable grounds to be connected with the suspected offence, or make or cause to be made, without payment, copies of or extracts from that document or record.

(2) Where any document or record required by an investigator is kept in electronic form, then —(a)

the power of an investigator to require that document or record to be produced for inspection under subsection (1)(b)(ii) includes the power to require a copy of that document or record to be made available for inspection in legible form; and

(b)

subsection (1)(c) applies to any copy so made available.

(3) Any copy of or extract from any document or record made under subsection (1)(c) and certified as such by the investigator is admissible as evidence in any proceedings under this Act.

(4) A person who, when required by an investigator to provide under subsection (1)(b) any information or produce any document or record, refuses or fails, without reasonable excuse, to provide the information or to produce the document or record within the time allowed by the investigator shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.