20. Powers and duties of auditors (1) No person acting in the capacity of auditor to any undertaking shall, without such requirements as maybe appropriate in the circumstances, in pursuance of any audit , earned out by ta m that capacity, certify or report or express an opinion to the effect that any financial statements, including any annexure thereto, which relates to such undertaking, presents fairly, or gives a true and fair new of, or reflects correctly the affairs of such undertaking and the results of its operations, or the matters dealt with in such financial statement or annexure, as the circumstances may require, unless— (a) he has carried out such audit free of any restrictions whatsoever; (b) proper accounting records in English have been kept in Malawi in connexion with the undertaking in question, so as to reflect and explain all its transactions and record all its assets and liabilities correctly and adequately; (c) he has obtained all information, vouchers and other documents which in his opinion were necessary for the proper performance of his duties; (d) he has, in the case of an undertaking regulated by any written law, complied with all the requirements of that law relating to the audit of that undertaking; (e) he has, by means of such methods as are reasonably appropriate having regard to the nature of the undertaking in question, satisfied himself of the existence of material assets and liabilities shown on such financial statements or annexure; (f) he is satisfied, as far as is reasonably practicable having regard to the nature of the undertaking in question and of the audit carried out by him, as to the fairness or the truth or the correctness, as the case may be, of such financial statements or annexure; or (g) any matter referred to in subsection (3) had, at the date on which he so certified or reported or expressed such opinion, been adjusted to his satisfaction. (2) No accountant or auditor shall, when acting otherwise than in pursuance of an audit , certify or report or express an opinion, without such qualification as may be appropriate in the circumstances, to the effect that any account, financial statement (including any annexure thereto) or other document relating to the business or financial affairs of any undertaking, presents fairly, or gives a true and fair view of, or reflects correctly, the matters dealt with therein, unless he has, mutatis mutandis , complied with the provisions of paragraphs (a), (c) and f of subsection (1). (3) If any accountant or auditor or his partner, or any person employed by him or his partner, or any person working under his supervision and control or under the supervision and control of his partner, was responsible for keeping books, records or accounts of any undertaking, except to the extent of making closing entries or assisting with any adjusting entries or framing any balance sheet, accounts, statement or other document from existing records, such accountant or auditor shall, in certifying or reporting on anything in connexion with the business or financial affairs of such undertaking, indicate that he or his partner or a person working under his supervision and control or under the supervision and control of his partner, as the case may be, was responsible for keeping such books, records or accounts. (4) Any certificate required to be given or report to be made or opinion to be expressed by an accountant or auditor in his capacity as an accountant or auditor in pursuance of any assignment carried out by him, shall be given or made or expressed within a period of four months after the date on which the assignment was completed, and in any case not more than fifteen months from the previous Annual General Meeting, and if such accountant or auditor is unable to give an unqualified certificate or make an unqualified report or express an unqualified opinion, he shall, within the said period give that certificate or make that report or express that opinion subject to such qualifications as he may deem necessary, and may, if he considers it advisable, endorse on that certificate, report or opinion the reason for any such qualification: Provided that— (a) if any person acting in the capacity of auditor to any undertaking is satisfied or has reason to believe that in the conduct of the affairs of such undertaking a material irregularity has takenplace, which irregularity has caused or is likely to cause financial loss to the undertaking or to any of its members or creditors, he shall forthwith dispatch, a report in writing to the persons in charge of that undertaking, giving the particulars of the irregularity, at the same time drawing the attention of the person in charge of such undertaking to the provisions of paragraphs (b) and (c) of this proviso and requesting him to acknowledge receipt of such report in writing; (b) unless within thirty days after an auditor has dispatched such a report, he has been satisfied by information received that no such irregularity has taken place or is taking place or that adequate steps have been taken for the recovery of any such loss caused as aforesaid or for the prevention of any such loss likely to be caused as aforesaid, he shall, through the Institute , furnish the Board with copies of the report and of any acknowledgement of receipt thereof and reply thereto and such other particulars as he may deem fit; (c) the Board may disclose to the Attorney General or any public officer or any member or creditor of the undertaking concerned, any information supplied to it pursuant to paragraph (b) of this proviso; (d) for the purpose of determining whether any irregularity contemplated by this subsection has taken place or is taking place, an auditor may carry out such investigations as he may deem fit; and (e) nothing in this subsection shall be construed as conferring upon any person any right of action against an auditor, which, but for the provisions of this subsection, he would not have had. (5) If any person who was acting in the capacity of an auditor regarding any undertaking immediately prior to its bankruptcy or liquidation (whether provisional or final), is satisfied or has reason to believe that at or before the date of the bankruptcy or liquidation, as the case may be, a material irregularity in the conduct of the affairs of such undertaking was taking place or had taken place, which irregularity had caused or was likely to cause financial loss to the undertaking or to any of its members or creditors, and such person did not comply with the provisions of paragraph (a) of the proviso to subsection (4) in respect of such irregularity before the said date, he shall forthwith dispatch a report in writing giving particulars of such irregularity, to the person appointed as trustee or provisional trustee or as liquidator or provisional liquidator, as the case may be, of such undertaking and at the same time supply copies of such report to the person in charge of such undertaking and to the Board . (6) The Board may disclose to the Attorney General or any public officer or any member or creditor of the undertaking concerned, any information supplied to it pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (b) of the proviso to subsection (4). (7) If a person who has been registered as an accountant and auditor under the provisions of this Act— (a) fails to perform any duties devolving upon him in the capacity of an auditor to any undertaking with such a degree of care and skill as, in the opinion of the Board , may reasonably be expected; or (b) is on the basis of prima facie evidence presented to the Board , negligent in the performance of such duties, the Board may, whether or not such auditor is liable to be or has been criminally charged or has been convicted in respect of such failure or negligence, cause the Institute to enquire into the circumstances, and if such failure or negligence is proved to its satisfaction, impose upon that person any of the penalties prescribed under Part VII of this Act: Provided that no person shall be penalised by reason of any opinion expressed by him in good faith as to the value or amount of any asset or liability appearing on the balance sheet in respect of the undertaking in connexion with which the audit was carried out, or by reason of his having declined to express any opinion thereon, if the Board is satisfied that, having regard to the nature of such asset or liability or any other circumstances, he could not reasonably have been expected to express an authoritative opinion. (8) No action shall be instituted against any auditor or any person registered as an accountant and auditor under this Act in respect of any opinion expressed or certificate given or report or statement made or statement, account or document certified by him in the ordinary cause of his duties, unless it is proved that such opinion was expressed or such certificate was given or such report or statement was made or such statement, account or document was certified maliciously, negligently or with fraudulent intent. (9) In carrying out his duties under this section, an auditor shall adhere to the provisions of the Code of Conduct promulgated by the Institute .