Singapore legislation
Section 10
Section 10
Power to investigate and require information
(1)
Where the Director‑General has reason to believe that any person has contravened any provision of this Act, the Director‑General may investigate the matter and, for the purposes of any such investigation, the Director‑General may —
call upon any authorised officer to make whatever preliminary investigation the Director‑General considers necessary;
require the production for inspection by the Director‑General or any authorised officer of any book, document or paper which may relate to or be connected with the subject matter of the investigation;
require any person to give all information in relation to any such book, document or paper which may be reasonably required by the Director‑General or the authorised officer;
require any person to furnish any other information as the Director‑General or the authorised officer may require; and
by written order require any person in Singapore whom the Director‑General or authorised officer has reason to believe to be acquainted with any fact or circumstance relevant to that purpose to attend before the Director‑General or authorised officer to answer any question (to the best of that person’s knowledge, information and belief) and to furnish any document or information.
(2)
If the Director‑General has reason to suspect that any scheduled species found in any premises or conveyance or in the possession of any person has been imported or introduced from the sea, the Director‑General may require any person who has in the person’s possession or custody or under the person’s control the scheduled species —
to declare its scientific name; and
to furnish to the Director‑General such other information as the Director‑General may require.
(3)
The Director‑General or an authorised officer may record any information furnished by any person under subsection (1) or (2) as a statement which is admissible as evidence in any proceedings in connection with any offence under this Act.
(4)
The person mentioned in subsection (1)(e) is bound to state truly the facts and circumstances with which the person is acquainted concerning the case except only that the person may decline to make, with regard to any fact or circumstance, a statement which would have a tendency to expose the person to a criminal charge or to penalty or forfeiture.
(5)
A statement made by any person examined under subsection (1)(e) must —
be reduced to writing;
be read over to the person;
if the person does not understand English, be interpreted in a language that the person understands; and
after correction (if necessary), be signed by the person.
(6)
If any person fails to attend before the Director‑General or an authorised officer as required by an order under subsection (1)(e), the Director‑General or authorised officer may report the failure to a Magistrate who may issue a warrant to secure the attendance of that person as required by the order.