Northern Territory Consolidated Acts

LEGAL AID ACT - SECT 57

    (1)     A person shall not:

        (a)     make, whether orally or in writing, a false or misleading statement in connection with, or in support of, an application for legal assistance; or

        (b)     furnish to the Commission in connection with an application for legal assistance a document that is false or misleading in a material particular.

Maximum penalty:     17 penalty units.

    (2)     Where:

        (a)     a person is found guilty of an offence against subsection (1) in respect of an application for legal assistance;

        (b)     legal assistance under this Act was granted on the application; and

        (c)     the Commission incurred expenses in providing the legal assistance,

the court may, in addition to imposing a penalty in respect of the offence, order the person to pay to the Commission an amount equal to the amount of those expenses incurred by the Commission.

    (3)     For the purposes of subsection (2), a certificate in writing signed by the Director, or by a person acting in the office of Director, certifying that the Commission incurred expenses of an amount specified in the certificate in providing legal assistance on an application identified in the certificate is prima facie evidence of the matters stated in the certificate.