43Finding property

43 Finding property

(1)  *[Section 43 Subsection (1) substituted by No. 46 of 1991, s. 5 and Sched. 3 ]*A person finding and taking possession of any money, goods, or chattels shall not fail to convey and deliver the same to a neighbouring police station within 7 days after such taking of possession, unless, if the owner is known to that person, he or she has within that time restored the same to such owner.

(1A)  *[Section 43 Subsection (1A) inserted by No. 13 of 1987, s. 5 and Sched. 1 ]*A person who contravenes subsection (1) is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding one penalty unit.

(2)  *[Section 43 Subsection (2) amended by No. 32 of 1963, s. 21 ][Section 43 Subsection (2) amended by No. 55 of 1965, s. 5 ][Section 43 Subsection (2) amended by No. 13 of 1987, s. 5 and Sched. 1 ]*A person shall not apply to his own use or dispose of, otherwise than in pursuance of subsection (1) , any money, goods, or chattels found by him.

(2A)  *[Section 43 Subsection (2A) inserted by No. 13 of 1987, s. 5 and Sched. 1 ]*A person who contravenes subsection (2) is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding 2 penalty units.

(3)  *[Section 43 Subsection (3) amended by No. 32 of 1963, s. 21 ][Section 43 Subsection (3) amended by No. 55 of 1965, s. 5 ][Section 43 Subsection (3) amended by No. 13 of 1987, s. 5 and Sched. 1 ]*The court may order any person convicted before it of an offence against subsection (2) to pay to the owner of the property such sum not exceeding $1 000, as the court considers to be the value of the property, and such sum shall be recoverable as part of the penalty.

(4)  [Section 43 Subsection (4) amended by No. 49 of 2009, s. 9, Applied:12 Nov 2009] [Section 43 Subsection (4) amended by No. 49 of 2009, s. 9, Applied:12 Nov 2009] [Section 43 Subsection (4) amended by No. 77 of 2003, s. 7, Applied:15 Dec 2003] When any such property as aforesaid is brought to a police station, the police officer in charge shall forthwith receive the same and enter in a book to be kept in the police station for that purpose a description thereof, together with the name and address of the person by whom the same was brought to the station. The property so entered shall be delivered to the person who proves to the satisfaction of a justice, a police officer of or above the rank of inspector or the police officer in charge of the station that the same belongs to him, such person previously paying all such reasonable expenses, if any, incurred by the finder or in respect of any advertisement or otherwise, as such justice may award.