Page:Inquiries Act 2007.pdf/14

14 :(a) the completion of any other investigation relating to any of the matters to which the inquiry relates; or
 * (b) the determination of any civil or criminal proceedings (including proceedings before a disciplinary tribunal) arising out of any of those matters.

(2) The power conferred by sub-paragraph (1) may be exercised whether or not the investigation or proceedings have begun.

(3) A notice under sub-paragraph (1) may suspend the inquiry until a specified day, until the happening of a specified event or until the chairman, with the consent of the appointing authority, gives further notice to the other members of the inquiry body.

Interpreters

3. An inquiry body shall have the power to appoint any person, whether in the service of the Government or not, to act as interpreter in any matter brought before the inquiry body and to translate any books, papers or writings produced to the inquiry body.

Admissibility of evidence

4. No evidence taken in the course of any inquiry shall be admissible as evidence in any proceedings against the person who gave the evidence, other than proceedings, whether criminal or disciplinary, for an offence under this Act or an offence of giving or fabricating false evidence under any written law.

Offences

5.—(1) Any person who, during the course of an inquiry—
 * (a) wilfully gives false evidence when examined on oath or on affirmation before an inquiry body;
 * (b) does anything that is intended to have the effect of, or anything that he knows or believes is likely to have the effect of—
 * (i) distorting or otherwise altering any evidence, document, record or other thing that is given, produced or provided to the inquiry; or
 * (ii) preventing any evidence, document, record or other thing from being given, produced or provided to the inquiry;
 * (c) intentionally suppresses or conceals any document that is, and that he knows or believes to be, a relevant document; or
 * (d) intentionally alters or destroys any document that is, and that he knows or believes to be, a relevant document,

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 7 years or to both.