2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ELEVEN - Workmen’s Compensation (§§ 1 — 268) › Chapter 9 - Temporary Disability Benefits (§§ 201 — 212) › § 211 - Penalties

(a) Misrepresentation to obtain benefits.— Any person who makes a false statement or representation of a material fact knowing it to be false, or who knowingly conceals a material fact with intent to defraud so as to obtain or increase any benefit under this chapter, for himself or for another, shall incur the penalty prescribed by the Penal Code of Puerto Rico for larceny of the amount of money thus obtained by him or by such other person, and each such false statement or representation or concealment of a material fact shall constitute a separate offense.
(b) Misrepresentation and failure to forward contributions.— Any employing unit or any officer or representative of an employing unit, employer or person who fails to forward, when due, any contributions on the part of the employer or of the worker, whether withheld or deducted, or the amount of said contributions of the worker have not been withheld or deducted, or who makes or causes to be made a false statement or representation to the Secretary knowing it to be false, or who knowingly conceals a material fact so as to defraud an individual by preventing or reducing the payment of benefits to which such individual would otherwise be entitled, or to avoid becoming or remaining an employer covered by this chapter, or to avoid or reduce any contribution or other payment required from an employing unit under this chapter or who wilfully fails or refuses to make any contribution or other payment or to furnish any reports required hereunder or to produce or permit the inspection or copying of records as required hereunder shall be imposed imprisonment in jail for a maximum term of one year or a fine of $ 1,000, or both penalties, in the discretion of the court; and each false statement or representation or concealment of a material fact, and each such day such failure or refusal continues, shall constitute a separate offense.
(c) Noncompliance with subpoena.— Any person who, without good cause, fails or refuses to attend and testify or to answer any lawful inquiry or to produce books, papers, correspondence, memoranda, and other records, if it is in his power so to do, in obedience to a subpoena of the Secretary or his duly authorized representative or of a referee, shall be liable to imprisonment for a maximum term of thirty (30) days or a maximum fine of $ 200, or both penalties, in the discretion of the court; and each day such failure or refusal continues shall constitute a separate offense.
(d) Violation of chapter, rules, regulations and/or proceedings.— Any person who wilfully violates any provision of this chapter or any order, rule, or regulation promulgated hereunder, whose violation is made unlawful or whose observance is required by this chapter, and for which a penalty is not prescribed in this chapter, or in any other applicable statute, shall be punished by imprisonment not to exceed one year or by a fine not to exceed $ 1,000, or by both penalties, in the discretion of the court and each day such violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.
(e) Unauthorized disclosure of information.— If any official or employee of the Department of Labor and Human Resources, in violation of the provisions of § 206(c) of this title makes any disclosure of information he shall be punished by imprisonment in jail for a maximum term of one year or by a fine not to exceed $ 1,000, or by both penalties, in the discretion of the court.
History —June 26, 1968, No. 139, p. 354, § 11.