MAJOR CRIME (INVESTIGATIVE POWERS) ACT 2004 - SECT 43 Restriction on publication of evidence

MAJOR CRIME (INVESTIGATIVE POWERS) ACT 2004 - SECT 43

    (1)     The Chief Examiner may direct that—

        (a)     any evidence given before the Chief Examiner; or

        (b)     the contents of any document, or a description of any thing, produced to the Chief Examiner; or

        (c)     any information that might enable a person who has given evidence before the Chief Examiner to be identified; or

        (d)     the fact that any person has given or may be about to give evidence at an examination—

must not be published or communicated, or must not be published or communicated except in such manner, and to such persons, as the Chief Examiner specifies.

S. 43(2) substituted by No. 55/2014 s. 163(1).

    (2)     The Chief Examiner must give a direction under subsection (1) if satisfied that failure to do so would reasonably be expected to prejudice—

        (a)     the safety of a person; or

        (b)     the fair trial of a person who has been or may be charged with an offence.

S. 43(2A) inserted by No. 55/2014 s. 163(1).

    (2A)     To avoid doubt, a reference in subsection (2)(a) or (b) to a person includes a person who has given, or may be about to give, evidence before the Chief Examiner or produced, or may be about to produce, a document or other thing to the Chief Examiner.

    (3)     A person who makes a publication or communication in contravention of a direction given under subsection (1) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to level 6 imprisonment (5 years maximum).

S. 43(4) substituted by No. 55/2014 s. 163(2).

    (4)     If a person is charged with an offence against this Act, nothing in this section or section 43A prevents restricted evidence from being published or communicated by the Chief Examiner or the Chief Commissioner to the court or to the person charged or a legal practitioner representing the person charged.

S. 43(4A) inserted by No. 3/2009 s. 10 (as amended by No. 87/2009 s. 11), repealed by No. 55/2014 s. 163(3).

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S. 43(5) amended by No. 87/2009 s. 10, repealed by No. 55/2014 s. 163(3).

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S. 43(6) amended by No. 82/2012 s. 108.

    (6)     Nothing in this section empowers the Chief Examiner to give a direction under subsection (1) that would restrict the exercise of powers or the performance of duties by the Victorian Inspectorate under this Act or any other Act or affect a person's right under this Act or any other Act to complain to the Victorian Inspectorate.

S. 43A inserted by No. 55/2014 s. 164.