Singapore legislation

Section 55

of Internal Security Act 1960

Section 55

Power to order destruction of certain unoccupied buildings

(1)

Where in any security area any building or structure is left unoccupied by reason of the operation of any order made under this Chapter, the officer in charge of the division in which such building or structure is situated may if it appears to him —

(a)

to be likely that such building or structure will if left standing be used by any person or persons who intend, or are about, to act or have recently acted in a manner prejudicial to public security or by any other person who is likely to harbour any such persons; and

(b)

to be impracticable in any other way to prevent such use,destroy or authorise the destruction of that building or structure.

(2)

Compensation shall be payable in respect of the destruction of any building or structure under this section if the claimant satisfies the Minister —

(a)

that such building or structure was erected by or with the consent of the person lawfully entitled to the land on which the same was erected; and

(b)

that such building or structure was not liable to forfeiture under any regulations made under section 72:Provided that compensation may be paid to the owner or occupier of any building or structure erected by or with the consent of the person lawfully entitled to the land on which it was erected, notwithstanding that such building or structure is liable to forfeiture under any regulations made under section 72, if such owner or occupier satisfies the Minister that the building or structure was used by persons who intend, or are about, to act or have recently acted, in a manner prejudicial to public security or that such persons were being or had been harboured by his employee or agent, as the case may be, without his knowledge or consent, and that he exercised all due diligence to prevent such building or structure being so used or the harbouring of such persons, as the case may be.

(3)

Any compensation payable under this section shall be assessed in accordance with regulations made under section 72.