4. Examination of books of person carrying on banking business without a licence
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(1) In this section “relevant documents” means any books, accounts, records and other documents, cheques and securities.
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(2) Where the Central Bank has reasonable cause to suspect that —
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(a) any person is carrying on banking business without a licence granted under this Act; and
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(b) evidence of contravention of section 3(1) is to be found on any premises in Saint Lucia,
an application without notice may be made to the High Court by the Central Bank for an order that a named officer or officers of the Central Bank be entitled to enter and search the premises with a police officer and seize the relevant documents and any cash as may be found on the premises relating to the conduct of banking business, to ascertain whether the person is carrying on banking business without a licence.
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(3) Any order issued by the High Court under subsection (2) may authorise —
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(a) the Central Bank to detain the relevant documents for a period not exceeding 30 days;
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(b) the officer or officers to make copies of the relevant documents; and
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© the Central Bank to retain copies of the relevant documents.
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(4) Any officer or officers, in whose name an order has been granted under subsection (2), may in the case of resistance, break open any door, and force and remove any other impediment or obstruction to such entry, search or seizure.
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(5) A person refusing to make available for examination any relevant documents having been so requested by the Central Bank commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both such fine and imprisonment.