Singapore legislation
Section 181
Section 181
Powers of enforcement
(1)
In addition to the powers conferred on him or her by this Act or any other written law, an inspector or authorised person may, for the purposes of investigating any offence or contravention of a provision of this Act which may result in disciplinary action, do all or any of the following:
require any person whom the inspector or authorised person reasonably believes to have committed that offence or contravention to furnish evidence of the person’s identity;
require any person to furnish any information or produce any record, document or copy thereof in the possession of that person, and may, without fee or reward, inspect, copy or make extracts from such record or document; (c)require, by written order, the attendance before the inspector or authorised person of any person within the limits of Singapore who, from any information given or otherwise obtained by the inspector or authorised person, appears to be acquainted with the circumstances of the case; (d)examine orally any person who appears to be acquainted with the facts and circumstances of matters under this Act —
whether before or after that person or anyone else is charged with an offence, or disciplinary proceedings are commenced, in connection with the matter; and
whether or not that person is to be called as a witness in any inquiry, trial or disciplinary proceedings in connection with the matter.
(2)
Any person examined under this section is bound to state truly what that person knows of the facts and circumstances concerning matters under this Act, except that he or she need not say anything that might expose him or her to a criminal charge, penalty or forfeiture.
(3)
A statement made by any person examined under this section must —
be reduced to writing;
be read over to that person;
if that person does not understand English, be interpreted in a language that he or she understands; and
after correction, if necessary, be signed by that person.
(4)
If any person fails to attend as required by an order under subsection (1)(c), the inspector or authorised person may report such failure to a Magistrate who may thereupon issue a warrant to secure the attendance of that person as required by the order.
(5)
Any person who —
wilfully mis-states or without lawful excuse refuses to give any information or produce any record, document or copy thereof required of that person by an inspector or authorised person under subsection (1); or
fails to comply with a lawful demand of an inspector or authorised person in the discharge by such inspector or authorised person of his or her duties under this Act or any other written law,shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.