Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 20 · Bankruptcy Offences
407. Concealment of books and papers; falsification, etc.
Feedback & supportA bankrupt shall be guilty of an offence if —
bankrupt
“bankrupt” means —(a)an individual debtor who has been adjudged bankrupt by a bankruptcy order; or(b)where a bankruptcy order has been made against a firm, each of the partners in the firm;
the bankrupt does not deliver up possession to the Official Assignee, or as the Official Assignee may direct, of all books, papers and other records of which the bankrupt has possession or control and which relate to the bankrupt’s estate or affairs;
Official Assignee
“Official Assignee” means the Official Assignee appointed under section 16(1) and includes a Deputy Official Assignee, a Senior Assistant Official Assignee and an Assistant Official Assignee;
the bankrupt prevents, or in the initial period prevented, the production of any books, papers or records relating to the bankrupt’s estate or affairs;
books
“books” has the meaning given by section 4(1) of the Companies Act 1967;
the bankrupt conceals, destroys, mutilates or falsifies, or causes or permits the concealment, destruction, mutilation or falsification of, any books, papers or other records relating to the bankrupt’s estate or affairs;
the bankrupt makes, or causes or permits the making of, any false entries in any book, document or record relating to the bankrupt’s estate or affairs;
document
“document” includes any summons, order or other legal process, any notice and any register;
the bankrupt disposes of, or alters or makes any omission in, or causes or permits the disposal, altering or making of any omission in, any book, document or record relating to the bankrupt’s estate or affairs; or
in the 12 months before the making of the bankruptcy application by or against the bankrupt, or in the initial period, the bankrupt did anything which would have been an offence under paragraph (c), (d) or (e) if the bankruptcy order against the bankrupt had been made before the bankrupt did it.
bankruptcy application
“bankruptcy application” means an application to the Court for a bankruptcy order;