Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908

Forgery, personation, unlawfully engraving plates, &c.

38.(1) If any person—

(i) with intent to defraud, forges or alters, or offers, utters, disposes of, or puts off, knowing the same to be forged or altered, any share warrant or coupon, or any document purporting to be a share warrant or coupon, issued in pursuance of this Act; or by means of any such forged or altered share warrant, coupon, or document, purporting as aforesaid, demands or endeavours to obtain or receive any share or interest in any company under this Act, or to receive any dividend or money payable in respect thereof, knowing the warrant, coupon, or document to be forged or altered; or

(ii) falsely and deceitfully personates any owner of any share or interest in any company, or of any share warrant or coupon, issued in pursuance of this Act, and thereby obtains or endeavours to obtain any such share or interest or share warrant or coupon, or receives or endeavours to receive any money due to any such owner, as if the offender were the true and lawful owner,

he shall be guilty of felony, and being convicted thereof shall be liable, at the discretion of the court, to be kept in penal servitude for life or for any term not less than three years.

(2) If any person without lawful authority or excuse, proof whereof shall lie on him, engraves or makes on any plate, wood, stone, or other material any share warrant or coupon purporting to be a share warrant or coupon issued or made by any particular company in pursuance of this Act, or to be a blank share warrant or coupon so issued or made, or to be a part of such a share warrant or coupon, or uses any such plate, wood, stone, or other material for the making or printing of any such share warrant or coupon, or of any such blank share warrant or coupon, or any part thereof respectively, or knowingly has in his custody or possession any such plate, wood, stone, or other material, he shall be guilty of felony, and being convicted thereof shall be liable, at the discretion of the court, to be kept in penal servitude for any term not exceeding fourteen years and not less than three years.