Singapore legislation
Section 160
Section 160
Director‑General may order detention or commitment of woman or girl in certain cases
(1)
Any woman or girl —
whose lawful guardian requests the Director‑General in writing to detain her in a place of safety or to commit her to the care of a fit individual;
whom the Director‑General considers is in need of protection and whose lawful guardian cannot be found;
whom the Director‑General believes to have been ill‑treated and is in need of protection; or
whom the Director‑General considers to be in moral danger,may, by warrant under the hand of the Director‑General, be ordered to be removed to a place of safety and there detained, or to be committed to the care of a fit individual, until the Director‑General has held an inquiry as to the circumstances of the case.
(2)
Every such inquiry must be completed within a period of one month from the date of the woman’s or girl’s admission into the place of safety or commitment to the care of the fit individual, as the case may be.
(3)
If, after holding such inquiry, the Director‑General is satisfied that the woman or girl is in need of protection, the Director‑General may by warrant under his or her hand order that the woman or girl be detained in a place of safety, or committed to the care of a fit individual, for such period as the Director‑General may determine.
(4)
Where a girl has been detained in a place of safety, or committed to the care of a fit individual, at the request of the girl’s lawful guardian, the girl may be detained or committed for such period as the Director‑General determines is necessary for the girl’s rehabilitation, despite any request made by the girl’s lawful guardian for the girl’s early release.