Friendly Societies Act 1992

65 Investigations on behalf of Commission

(1) If it appears to the Commission desirable to do so for the purpose of its supervisory functions in relation to a friendly society, the Commission may appoint one or more competent persons to investigate and report to it on the state and conduct of the activities of the society, or any particular aspect of those activities.

(2) If a person appointed under subsection (1) above thinks it necessary for the purposes of his investigation, he may also investigate the activities of any body corporate which is or has at any relevant time been a subsidiary of, or jointly controlled by, the society under investigation.

(3) It shall be the duty of every person who is or has been an officer, employee and agent of a friendly society or other body which is under investigation—

(a) to produce to the persons appointed under subsection (1) above all records, books and papers relating to the body concerned which are in his custody or power; and

(b) to attend before those persons when required to do so;

(c) to answer any question which is put to him by those persons with respect to any friendly society or other body which is under investigation,

and otherwise to give to those persons all assistance in connection with the investigation which he is reasonably able to give.

(4) A person who, without reasonable excuse—

(a) fails to produce any records, books or papers which it is his duty to produce under subsection (3)(a) above; or

(b) fails to comply with his duty under subsection (3)(b) or (c) above;

shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(5) A person who is or has been an officer, employee or agent of a friendly society or other body and who knowingly or recklessly furnishes to any person appointed under subsection (1) above any information which is false or misleading in a material particular, shall be guilty of an offence and liable—

(a) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine or both; and

(b) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum.

(6) In this section—

• “agent”, in relation to a friendly society or other body whose activities are under investigation, includes its bankers, accountants, solicitors and auditors and the appropriate actuary;

• “the purposes of its supervisory functions”, in relation to the Commission, has the same meaning as in section 62 above.