Singapore legislation

Clause 21

Suspension or cancellation of registration

(1)

Upon consideration of the report of an Inquiry Committee, the Board may —

(a)

by order suspend the public accountant from practice for a period not exceeding two years or by order cancel the registration of any public accountant if —

(i)

the public accountant is convicted of an offence involving dishonesty;

(ii)

the public accountant is judged by the Board to have been guilty of professional misconduct;

(iii)

the registration of the public accountant under Part III has been obtained by fraud or misrepresentation;

(iv)

it appears to the Board that the public accountant is no longer in a position to carry out the duties of a public accountant effectively; or

(v)

the public accountant has been adjudicated bankrupt or has made any arrangement with his creditors;

(b)

in any case in which it considers that no cause of sufficient gravity for suspension or cancellation of registration exists —

(i)

by order impose on the public accountant a penalty not exceeding $5,000; or

(ii)

by writing under the hand of the Chairman censure the public accountant; or

(c)

dismiss the application or complaint.

(2)

The Chairman may by writing under his hand order the public accountant to pay to the Board such sums as he thinks fit in respect of costs and expenses of and incidental to any hearing held by the Inquiry Committee.

(3)

Any penalty imposed or costs and expenses incurred by the Board under this section shall be recoverable as a debt due to the Board.

(4)

While any public accountant remains suspended, he shall be deemed not to be registered as a public accountant under this Act but immediately upon the expiry of his period of suspension, his rights and privileges as a public accountant shall forthwith be revived.

(5)

The Board may appoint a legal assessor who may be present at any hearing into any matter to advise the Board on all matters of law.

(6)

The Board may, where it thinks fit, require an Inquiry Committee to consider further evidence and meet for that purpose except that the public accountant concerned shall be given not less than 14 days’ notice of such further meeting of the Inquiry Committee.

Read in full context — Accountants Bill →