(1)Every person who, whether within or without Her Majesty's dominions.—
(a)procures or persuades any person subject to this Act to commit an offence of desertion, of absenting himself without leave or of improperly leaving his ship or place of duty; or
(b)knowing that any such person is about to commit such an offence as aforesaid, assists him in so doing; or
(c)knowing any such person to have committed such an offence as aforesaid, conceals him or assists in concealing him or assists in his rescue from custody,
shall be guilty of an offence against this section.
(2)A person guilty of an offence against this section shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or to both such a fine and such imprisonment, or on conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding five hundred pounds or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or to both such a fine and such imprisonment.