Singapore legislation
Section 34
Section 34
Power to seize and detain illegal newspapers
(1)
Any —
officer of a postal licensee not below the rank of postal superintendent;
senior officer of customs; or
police officer not below the rank of Inspector,may detain, open and examine any package or article which the officer suspects to contain any newspaper which is being or has been brought into Singapore for the purpose of publication, sale or distribution in contravention of any of the provisions of this Act or of any condition imposed in respect of any permit.
(2)
Any police officer or any officer of customs may seize and detain any newspaper found in the possession of any person which the police officer or the officer of customs has reasonable cause to believe has been printed, published, sold or distributed or is intended to be printed, published, sold or distributed in contravention of the provisions of this Act or of any conditions imposed in respect of any permit.
(3)
Any such newspaper which has been so printed, published, sold or distributed must, whether or not any person has been convicted of any offence in respect thereof —
be forfeited by order of a court; and
be destroyed or otherwise disposed of as the court directs.
(4)
A District Judge or a Magistrate may issue a warrant empowering any police officer not below the rank of sergeant to enter upon and search for any newspaper the printing, publication, sale or distribution of which is unlawful under any of the provisions of this Act in any premises where any such newspaper is known or reasonably suspected to be.
(5)
Where it appears to any police officer not below the rank of Inspector that there is reasonable cause to believe that in any premises there is concealed or deposited any newspaper the printing, publication, sale or distribution of which is unlawful under any of the provisions of this Act and the officer has reasonable grounds for believing that by reason of the delay which would be entailed by obtaining a search warrant the object of the search is likely to be frustrated, the officer may enter and search the premises as if the officer were empowered to do so by a warrant.