Before a person is granted free legal aid under Article 28,F1 28A, 29 or 30 he may be required to furnish a written statement in the prescribed form about matters relevant for determining whether his means are insufficient to enable him to obtain legal aid, and if a person in furnishing such a written statement as aforesaid (whether required so to do or not) knowingly makes any false statement or false representation he shall be guilty of an offence and be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceedingF2 level 3 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both.

Notwithstanding any statutory provision prescribing the period within which summary proceedings may be commenced, proceedings for an offence under paragraph (1) may be commenced at any time within the period of six months from the date on which evidence, sufficient in the opinion of the Attorney General to justify a prosecution for the offence, comes to the knowledge of the Attorney General, or within the period of twelve months after the commission of the offence, whichever period last expires.

For the purposes of paragraph (2) a certificate purporting to be signed by the Attorney General as to the date on which such evidence as aforesaid has come to the knowledge of the Attorney General, shall be conclusive evidence thereof.