Singapore legislation
Section 173
Section 173
Power of search
(1)
The Director‑General, or any public officer, being either a police officer not below the rank of sergeant, an immigration officer within the meaning of the Immigration Act 1959 or a public officer of such department that the Minister is charged with responsibility for, and being generally or specially authorised for that purpose in writing by the Director‑General, may enter, and for that purpose use force if necessary, and search —
any place where the Director‑General, person or officer has reasonable cause to believe that an offence under this Part has been or is being committed; and
any person in that place,and may remove any woman or girl who is or may be liable to be dealt with under section 156, 159 or 160 to a place of safety to be there detained until her case is inquired into, except that no woman may be searched other than by a woman.
(2)
Any person who refuses to be searched or refuses the Director‑General, person or officer access to such place or otherwise obstructs or hinders him or her in effecting an entrance to such place or in removing any such woman or girl shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.