Section 41: Imitation of currency notes

41. Imitation of currency notes (1) Any person who— (a) makes or causes to be made; (b) uses for any purpose; or (c) alters, any document purporting to be or in any way resembling or so nearly resembling, as to be calculated to deceive, a currency note or a part of a currency note shall commit an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to penal servitude. (2) Any person who, without lawful authority or excuse, makes or knowingly keeps in his possession any plate, block, die or other instrument used for, or capable of being used for, printing or reproducing any document referred to in subsection (1), shall commit an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to penal servitude. (3) Any person whose name appears on a document, the making of which is an offence under this section, who refuses to disclose to a police officer the name and address of the person by whom it was printed or made shall commit an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding 500,000 rupees. (4) The Court may, upon the conviction of a person under subsection (1) or (2), order the document and any copies of that document and any plates, blocks, dies or other instruments, which are in the possession of the offender, to be destroyed. [Issue 9] B2 – 20 Revised Laws of Mauritius (5) Where the name of a person appears on a document in respect of which a charge for an offence under this section has been laid or on any other document used or distributed in connection with that document, it shall be prima facie evidence that that person caused the document to be made. (6) In this section— “currency note”— (a) means a note issued under this Act; and (b) includes a foreign currency note that is legal tender in the jurisdiction of a foreign State.