17. Search of persons and baggage
Feedback & supportAny 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, water or air, or being about to leave Singapore by land, water or air, shall —
vessel
“vessel” includes any ship or boat or other description of vessel used in navigation, not having the status of a ship of war.
on demand by an authorised officer, either permit his 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 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 person and goods and baggage to be searched by him or in his presence and under his supervision:Provided that no woman shall be searched except by a woman and with due regard to decency and that the goods and baggage of any person who claims to be present when they are searched shall not be searched except in his presence, unless he fails to be present after being given reasonable facility for being present.
Nothing in this section shall apply to a passenger while he is on board a vessel and in transit through Singapore to a destination outside Singapore.
Board
“Board” means the Trade Development Board established under section 3 of the Trade Development Board Act *;* References formerly in this Act to the Controller of Imports and Exports are, in this Edition, replaced by references to the Board, in accordance with section 18 (2) of the Trade Development Board Act.
Any person who refuses to comply with any lawful demand under this section may be arrested without warrant by the officer making the demand.[18