Section 235 - Expenses of investigations

(1) The expenses of, and incidental to, an investigation by the Registrar under section 228 or by inspectors appointed by the Registrar under section 229 or 230 shall be defrayed in the first instance by the Registrar, but the following persons are, to the extent mentioned, liable to repay the Registrar:

(a) a person who is convicted on a prosecution instituted by virtue of paragraph (a) of section 234, or who is ordered to restore property or pay damages or compensation in proceedings brought by virtue of paragraph (c) of section 234 may in the same proceedings be ordered to pay the expenses to the extent specified in the order;

(b) a body corporate in whose name proceedings are brought by virtue of paragraph (c) of section 234 is liable to the amount or value of any sums of money or property recovered by the body corporate as a result of those proceedings, and the expenses shall be a first charge on those sums or property; or

(c) a body corporate dealt with by the report of an inspector appointed under section 229 or 230 and the applicants, other than the Registrar, for the investigation where the inspector was appointed under section 229 is liable to the extent that the Registrar shall direct.

(2) The report of an inspector may, if the inspector deems fit, and shall if the Registrar so directs, include a recommendation as to the directions which the inspector considers appropriate to be given under paragraph (c) of subsection (1).

(3) For the purposes of this section, the costs or expenses incurred by the Registrar in connection with proceedings brought under paragraph (b) or (c) of section 234 shall be treated as expenses of the investigation giving rise to the proceedings.

(4) As between the persons specified in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of subsection (1) of this section, liability to repay the Registrar shall be borne, to the extent to which these persons are respectively liable under the paragraphs specified, in the first instance by those liable under paragraph (a), by those liable under paragraph (b), and finally by those liable under paragraph (c).