PART 3ABSENT VOTING IN THE REFERENDUM IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
CHAPTER 2NORTHERN IRELAND
OffencesI178
1
If a person—
a
in any declaration or form used for any of the purposes of this Chapter of this Part, makes a statement knowing it to be false, or
b
attests an application under regulation 73 knowing—
i
that he or she is not authorised to do so, or
ii
that it contains a statement which is false,
that person commits an offence.
2
A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.
3
4
In relation to a signature, “false information” for the purposes of paragraph (3), means a signature which—
a
is not the usual signature of, or
b
was written by a person other than,
the person whose signature it purports to be.
5
A person does not commit an offence under paragraph (3) if the person did not know, and had no reason to suspect, that the information was false.
6
Where sufficient evidence is adduced to raise an issue with respect to Act) the defence under paragraph (5), the court is to assume that the defence is satisfied unless the prosecution proves beyond reasonable doubt that it is not.
7
A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (3) is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or to both.