Merchant Shipping Act, 1894

Forgery of documents, &c., for purpose of obtaining property of deceased seamen.

180. If any person, for the purpose of obtaining, either for himself or for any other person, any property of any deceased seaman or apprentice to the sea service,—

(a) forges or fraudulently alters, or assists in forging or fraudulently altering, or procures to be forged or fraudulently altered any document purporting to show or assist in showing any right to such property; or

(b) makes use of any document which has been so forged or fraudulently altered as aforesaid; or

(c) gives or assists in giving, or procures to be given, any false evidence, knowing the same to be false; or

(d) makes or assists in making, or procures to be made, any false representation, knowing the same to be false; or

(e) assists in procuring any false evidence or representation to be given or made, knowing the same to be false,—

that person shall for each offence be liable to penal servitude for a term not exceeding five years, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years with or without hard labour, or on summary conviction to imprisonment with or without hard labour for any period not exceeding six months.