Section 148Destroying or falsifying information and documents etc

(1) This section applies where a person—

• (a)
  has been given an information notice requiring the person to provide the [^F1Commission] with information [^F2or a document], or
• (b)
  has been given an assessment notice requiring the person to direct [^F3a member of the Commission or a member of its staff] to a document, equipment or other material or to assist [^F4such a person] to view information.

(2) It is an offence for the person—

• (a)
  to destroy or otherwise dispose of, conceal, block or (where relevant) falsify all or part of the information, document, equipment or material, or
• (b)
  to cause or permit the destruction, disposal, concealment, blocking or (where relevant) falsification of all or part of the information, document, equipment or material,

with the intention of preventing [^F5a member of the Commission or a member of its staff] from viewing, or being provided with or directed to, all or part of the information, document, equipment or material.

(3) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (2) to prove that the destruction, disposal, concealment, blocking or falsification would have occurred in the absence of the person being given the notice.