Singapore legislation
Section 21
Section 21
Search of persons and baggage
(1)
Any person landing or being about to land or having recently landed from any vessel or aircraft, or leaving any vessel or aircraft in Singapore whether for the purpose of landing or otherwise, or entering or having recently entered Singapore by land, sea or air, or being about to leave Singapore by land, sea or air, must —
on demand by an authorised officer, either permit his or her person and goods and baggage to be searched by the officer or, together with the goods and baggage, accompany the officer to a police station or an examination station, and there permit his or her person and goods and baggage to be searched in the presence and under the supervision of a senior authorised officer; or
on demand by a senior authorised officer, permit his or her person and goods and baggage to be searched by the officer or in the presence and under the supervision of the officer.
(2)
Whenever it is necessary to cause a woman to be searched, the search must be made by another woman and with strict regard to decency.
(3)
The goods and baggage of any person who requests to be present when they are searched must not be searched except in his or her presence, unless he or she fails to be present after being given reasonable facility for being present.
(4)
Any person who refuses to comply with any lawful demand made under this section may be arrested without warrant by the officer making the demand.