Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act 1955 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 2 · Miscellaneous Offences Relating to Public Safety
4. Making and possession of subversive documents
Feedback & supportAny person who, without lawful excuse, makes, causes to be made, carries or has in his possession or under his control any subversive document shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years.
subversive document
“subversive document” means any document which contains —(a)any subversive matter;(b)any propaganda or matter supporting, propagating or advocating acts prejudicial to the public safety in Singapore or the maintenance of public order therein or inciting to violence therein or counselling disobedience to the law thereof or to any lawful order therein; or(c)any reference to or account of any collection of, or any request or demand for, any subscription, contribution or donation, whether in money or in kind, or any request or demand for supplies for the benefit, directly or indirectly, or the use of persons who intend to or are about to act or have acted in a manner prejudicial to the public safety in Singapore or to the maintenance of public order therein or who incite to violence therein or counsel disobedience to the law thereof or any lawful order therein,and includes any document indicating a connection, association or affiliation with any unlawful society;
Every document purporting to be a subversive document shall be deemed to be a subversive document until the contrary is proved.
document
“document” means any matter expressed or described upon any substance by means of letters, figures or marks, or by more than one of these means, and includes any banner, emblem or other insignia;
Where, in any prosecution under this section, it is proved that a person made, was carrying or had in his possession or under his control a subversive document, he shall be deemed to have known the nature and contents of the document.
No person shall be convicted of an offence under this section if he proves to the satisfaction of the court —
that he was not aware of the nature or contents of the subversive document which he made, caused to be made, was carrying or had in his possession or under his control; and
that he made, caused to be made, was carrying or had the subversive document in his possession or under his control in such circumstances that at no time did he have reasonable cause to believe or suspect that the document was a subversive document.