17Order by court to refund payment

17 Order by court to refund payment

(1)  Where a person is convicted of an offence against section 16 (2) , the court may, in addition to imposing a penalty under that section, order that person to refund to the State the amount of any payment obtained pursuant to that subsection.

(2)  Where a court makes an order under subsection (1) , a certificate signed by the appropriate officer of the court specifying –

(a) the amount ordered to be refunded; and

(b) the person by whom the amount is payable –

may be filed in a court of competent jurisdiction and is thereupon enforceable in all respects as a final judgment of that court.

(3)  Proceedings in relation to an offence against this Act shall not be commenced later than one year after the time when the offence is alleged to have been committed.