work permit and withdrawn criminal charges

[vaio]

I was accused of shoplifting in December and have a court date this month. I have a very good chance of getting the charge withdrawn by participating in the Adult Diversion scheme and as a result i will have no criminal record. I need to get my work permit renewed in Feb 2009 and was wondering whether to say 'yes' or 'no' to the question about ever having committed or convicted of a criminal offense on the work permit application.

If I say 'yes' just to be open about what I did, even though I don't have a criminal record, can my work permit be refused.

[Leon]

It depends on the question.  If the question is if you have committed it, only you know the answer to that.  If the question is were you convicted of it, since you have not been convicted, at least not yet, the answer would be no.