Forgery

In February 2010 the Crimes Amendment (Fraud, Identity and Forgery Offences) Act 2009 (NSW) (Act) was passed. This amendment created a new Part 5 section of the Crimes Act 1900 and it replaced around 25 offences with 6 new forgery offences.

The new offences prohibit the misuse or intended misuse of a “false document”.

The key offence is making a false document with the intention that the person, or another, will use the false document to induce another person to accept the document as genuine and thereby:

• obtain property belonging to another; or
• obtain any financial advantage or cause any financial disadvantage; or
• influence the exercise of a public duty (s 253).

There are separate, but related offences, for knowingly using a false document (s 254) or knowingly possessing a false document (s 255), with the same intention.

Three further offences relate to the making or possession of equipment designed or adapted for making false documents (s 256(1)-(3).

The maximum penalty for forgery is 10 years imprisonment.

William Vahl of North Shore Criminal Law regularly appears in these local courts.

If you have been charged with an offence, or are seeking further information on a Criminal or Traffic legal matter, call North Shore Criminal Law on (02) 9955 2298 or our 24 hour Emergency Service on 0400 44 64 24.