36. Requirement to provide translation

Where an investigating officer finds, detains, or takes possession of any property, document or information which, wholly or partly, is in a language other than the national language or English language, or is in any sign or code, the investigating officer may, orally or in writing, require the person who had the possession, custody or control of the property, document or information to furnish to him a translation in the national language or English language within such period as he may specify.

No person shall knowingly furnish a translation under subsection (1) which is not an accurate, faithful and true translation of the document.

Any person who fails to comply with the requirement in subsection (1) or contravenes subsection (2) commits an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding three million ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to both, and, in the case of a continuing offence, shall in addition be liable to a fine not exceeding three thousand ringgit for each day or part thereof during which the offence continues to be committed.

Where the person required to furnish a translation under subsection (1) is not the person who is suspected to have committed the offence, the competent authority or the relevant enforcement agency, as the case may be, may pay him reasonable fees and reimburse him for such reasonable expenses as he may have incurred in furnishing the translation.