20.
| (1) The Director or Deputy Director or any Government Agent or Additional Government Agent may, having regard to the circumstances in which the offence was committed and with the approval of the Minister, compound any offence under this Act for a sum of money equal to not less than one-fifth of the maximum fine imposable for such offence, and may, as part of the compounding of the offence, with the approval of the Minister, order the release of any boat, fish or other thing seized under section 13, (and In respect of which no order of detention has been made by a Judge of the High Court), on payment of a sum of money not exceeding the aggregate of the estimated value of the boat, fish or other thing, and the costs incurred in the detention of the boat and repatriation of its crew. |
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| (2) The compounding of any offence under this section
| | (a) shall be notified in writing under the signature of both parties to the High Court; | | |
| | (b) shall have the effect of an acquittal of the accused. | | |
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Sri Lanka Consolidated Acts