1209 - Recovery of assets.
§ 1209. Recovery of assets. (a) Whenever a receiver, by verified petition to the supreme court at a special term held in the judicial district in which he was appointed, shall show that he has good reason to believe that any person has in his possession or under his control, or has wrongfully concealed, withheld or disposed of, any property of the corporation, or that any person can testify concerning such facts, the court, with or without notice, shall make an order requiring such person to appear before the court or a referee, at a time and place designated, and submit to an examination concerning such facts. In such order, or at any time thereafter, in its discretion, the court may enjoin and restrain such person from disposing of any property of the corporation in his possession or under his control. (b) In any examination under such order, the court may confer immunity in accordance with the provisions of section six hundred nineteen-c of the code of criminal procedure; provided that no immunity shall be conferred except upon twenty-four hours prior written notice to the appropriate district attorney having an official interest therein. (c) A person so ordered to appear shall be entitled to the same fees and mileage, to be paid at the time of serving the order, as are allowed by law to witnesses subpoenaed to attend and testify in an action in the supreme court, and shall be subject to the same penalties upon failure to appear and testify in obedience to such order as are provided by law in the case of witnesses who fail to obey a subpoena to appear and testify in an action. (d) A person appearing for examination in obedience to such order shall be sworn, and shall be entitled to be represented on such examination by counsel, and may be cross-examined, or may make a voluntary statement in his own behalf concerning the subject of his examination. (e) The testimony taken under such order shall be signed and sworn to by the person examined, and be filed in the office of the clerk of the county where the action or proceeding is pending. If it shall appear that any person is wrongfully concealing or withholding, or has in his possession or under his control, any property of the corporation, on notice to him, the court may make an order requiring him forthwith to deliver it to the receiver, subject to the further order of the court.