Singapore legislation

Section 24

of Massage Establishments Act 2017

Section 24

Powers of investigation

(1)

The Licensing Officer or a police officer may, for the purposes of investigating an offence under this Act or the contravention of any provision of this Act, do all or any of the following:

(a)

require any person whom the Licensing Officer or police officer reasonably believes to have committed that offence or contravention to provide evidence of that person’s identity;

(b)

require any person whom the Licensing Officer or police officer reasonably believes has —

(i)

any information; or

(ii)

any document or article in the person’s possession, custody or control,relevant to the investigation, to provide that information, or produce that document or article;

(c)

issue a written notice requiring any person within the limits of Singapore, who appears to be acquainted with the facts or circumstances of the matter, to attend before the Licensing Officer or police officer;

(d)

examine orally any person who appears to be acquainted with the facts or circumstances of the matter —

(i)

whether before or after that person or anyone else is charged with an offence in connection with the matter; and

(ii)

whether or not that person is to be called as a witness in any inquiry, trial or other proceeding in connection with the matter;

(e)

without a warrant enter and search any place or premises in which the Licensing Officer or police officer reasonably suspects that an offence under this Act is being or has been committed;

(f)

if free entry or access to the place or premises cannot be obtained under paragraph (e), the Licensing Officer or police officer may, with any assistance that the Licensing Officer or police officer considers necessary, break open any door, window, lock or fastener, or use any other reasonable means in order to gain entry or access into the place or premises.

(2)

Any person examined under this section is bound to state truly what the person knows of the facts and circumstances of the matter, except that the person need not say anything that might expose the person to a criminal charge, penalty or forfeiture.

(3)

A statement made by any person examined under this section must —

(a)

be reduced to writing;

(b)

be read over to the person;

(c)

if the person does not understand English, be interpreted in a language that the person understands; and

(d)

after correction (if necessary), be signed by the person.

(4)

If any person fails to comply with a written notice issued to the person under subsection (1)(c), the Licensing Officer or police officer may report the failure to a Magistrate who may then, in the Magistrate’s discretion, issue a warrant ordering that person to comply with the written notice.

(5)

Subject to subsection (6), the Licensing Officer or a police officer may take possession or make copies of any document or article produced under subsection (1)(b), for further investigation.

(6)

Anything taken possession of by the Licensing Officer or police officer under subsection (5) —

(a)

must be placed in safe custody by the Licensing Officer or police officer; and

(b)

unless ordered otherwise by the court, may be retained until the completion of the investigation or any proceedings (including proceedings on appeal) in which it may be in evidence.

(7)

Any person who, without reasonable excuse, refuses or fails —

(a)

to provide any information, or produce any document or article, required of the person by the Licensing Officer or police officer under subsection (1)(a) or (b); or

(b)

to comply with any notice issued to the person under subsection (1)(c),shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.

Read in full context — Massage Establishments Act 2017 →