Companies Act 1989

13 (1) In section 85 of that Act, for subsection (7) there is substituted—

“(7) If any person (referred to in subsection (7A) of this section as “the defaulter”) refuses or otherwise fails to comply with any notice under subsection (1) of this section, any one of those who, in relation to the investigation in question, are performing the functions of the Commission may certify that fact in writing to the court and the court may enquire into the case.

(7A) If, after hearing any witness who may be produced against or on behalf of the defaulter and any statement which may be offered in defence, the court is satisfied that the defaulter did without reasonable excuse refuse or otherwise fail to comply with the notice, the court may punish the defaulter (and, in the case of a body corporate, any director or officer) in like manner as if the defaulter had been guilty of contempt of court.”.

(2) Subsections (5) and (6)(b) of that section are omitted.