12GNPower of Court to prohibit payment or transfer of money or other property

#### 12GN Power of Court to prohibit payment or transfer of money or other property (1) If: (a) proceedings have been commenced against a person for an offence against section 12GB; or (b) an application has been made under section 12GD for an injunction against a person in relation to a contravention of a provision of this Division; or (c) an action has been commenced under subsection 12GF(1) or 12GFA(1) or (2) against a person in relation to a contravention of a provision of Subdivision BA (sections 12BF to 12BM), Subdivision D (sections 12DA to 12DN) or Subdivision DA (sections 12DO to 12DZA); or (d) an application for an order under subsection 12GM(2) or (3) or 12GNB(1) has been or may be made against a person in relation to a contravention of a provision of this Division; the Court may, on the application of the Minister or ASIC, make an order or orders mentioned in subsection (2) if the Court is satisfied that: (e) it is necessary or desirable to do so for the purpose of preserving money or other property held by or on behalf of a person referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d), as the case may be (the relevant person), if the relevant person is liable or may become liable under this Division to pay money by way of a fine, damages, compensation, refund or otherwise or to transfer, sell or refund other property; and (f) it will not unduly prejudice the rights and interests of any other person. (2) The orders referred to in subsection (1) are the following: (a) an order prohibiting, either absolutely or subject to conditions, a person who is indebted to the relevant person or to an associate of the relevant person from making a payment in total or partial discharge of the debt to, or to another person at the direction or request of, the person to whom the debt is owed; (b) an order prohibiting, either absolutely or subject to conditions, a person who is holding money or other property on behalf of the relevant person or on behalf of an associate of the relevant person from paying all or any of the money, or transferring, or otherwise parting with possession of, the other property, to, or to another person at the direction or request of, the person on whose behalf the money or other property is held; (c) an order prohibiting, either absolutely or subject to conditions, the taking or sending by any person of money of the relevant person or of an associate of the relevant person to a place outside the State or Territory in which the money is held; (d) an order prohibiting, either absolutely or subject to conditions, the taking, sending or transfer by any person of other property of the relevant person or of an associate of the relevant person to a place outside the State or Territory in which the other property is located; (e) an order appointing, if the relevant person is a natural person, a receiver or trustee of the property or of part of the property of the relevant person with such powers as are specified in the order. (3) Subject to subsection (4), an order under this section may be expressed to operate: (a) for a period specified in the order; or (b) until proceedings under any other provision of this Part in relation to which the order was made have been concluded. (4) An order under this section made on an application ex parte must not be expressed to operate for a period exceeding 30 days. (5) A person who contravenes or fails to comply with an order by the Court under this section that is applicable to the person is guilty of an offence. Penalty: 200 penalty units. (5A) Subsection (5) is an offence of strict liability. > Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code. (6) Nothing in this section affects the powers that the Court has apart from this section. (7) This section has effect subject to the Bankruptcy Act 1966. (8) A reference in this section to a person who is an associate of a relevant person is a reference to: (a) a person holding money or other property on behalf of the relevant person; or (b) if the relevant person is a body corporate—a wholly owned subsidiary of the relevant person.