Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 52.djvu/897

 PUBLIC LAWS-CH. 575-JUNE 22, 1938 or from creditors in any proceeding under this Act, any property belonging to the estate of a bankrupt; or (2) made a false oath or account in or in relation to any proceeding under this Act; or (3) presented under oath any false claim for proof against the estate of a bankrupt, or used any such claim in any proceeding under this Act, personally, or by agent, proxy, or attorney, or as agent, proxy, or attorney; or (4) received any material amount of property from a bankrupt after the filing of a proceeding under this Act, with intent to defeat this Act; or (5) received or attempted to obtain any money or property, remuneration, compensation, reward, advantage, or promise thereof from any person, for acting or forebearing 1 to act in any proceeding under this Act; or (6) while an agent or officer of any person or corporation, and in contemplation of a pro- ceeding under this Act by or against such person or corporation, or with intent to defeat this Act, concealed or, with or without conceal- ment, transferred any of the property of such person or corporation; or (7) after the filing of a proceeding under this Act or in con- templation thereof, concealed, destroyed, mutilated, falsified, or made a false entry in any document affecting or relating to the property or affairs of a bankrupt; or (8) after the filing of a proceeding under this Act, withheld from the receiver, custodian, trustee, mar- shal, or other officer of the court any document affecting or relating to the property or affairs of a bankrupt, to the possession of which he is entitled. "c. A person shall be punished by fine, not to exceed $500, and shall forfeit his office, and the same shall thereupon become vacant, upon conviction of the offense of having knowingly (1) acted as a referee in a case in which he is directly or indirectly interested; or (2) purchased, while a referee, receiver, custodian, trustee, marshal or other officer of the court, directly or indirectly, any propert of the estate in a proceeding under this Act, of which he is such oficer; or (3) refused, while such officer, to permit a reasonable opportunity for inscin the inspectio of the accounts reing to the affairs of, and of the documents of, estates f, ste in his charge by parties in interest when directed by the court so to do. Time limitation. "d. A person shall not be prosecuted for any offense arising under this Act unless the indictment is found or the information is filed in court within three years after the commission of the offense: Pro- Priso. as oided, That the offense of concealment of assets of a bankrupt shall sncealment oas- be deemed to be a continuing offense until the bankrupt shall have been finally discharged, and the period of limitations herein pro- vided shall not begin to run until such final discharge. Reportovitin e (1) Whenever any ree, receiver, or trustee sh hallve rea- etc. sonable grounds for believing that any offense under this Act has been committed, or that an investigation should be had in connection therewith, it shall be the duty of any such officer to report such matter to the United States attorney for the district in which it is believed such an offense has ben committed, including in such report a statement of all the facts and circumstances of the case within his knowledge, the names of the witnesses and a statement as to the offense or offenses believed to have been committed: Pro- Proviso. f vided, That where one of such officers has made such a report, the has made report. other officers named herein shall not be required to do so. Duties ofT'. s. at- "(2) It shall thereupon become the duty of the United States torney. attorney to inquire into the facts so reported to him and report thereon to the referee, and if it appears probable that any offense under this Act has been committed, in a proper case and without delay, to present the matter to the grand jury, unless upon inquiry and examination such United States attorney decides that the ends ' So in original. 856 [52 STAT.

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