14. Unlawful societies
Feedback & supportLast amended by an amending law of 2023.
Every society, not being a registered society, shall be deemed to be an unlawful society; but no society shall be deemed to be unlawful under this section if and so long as the Registrar is satisfied that ––
society
“society” includes any club, company, partnership or association of 10 or more persons, whatever its nature or object, but does not include —(a)any company registered under any written law relating to companies for the time being in force in Singapore;(b)any company or association constituted under any written law;(c)any limited liability partnership registered under the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2005;(d)any trade union registered or required to be registered under any written law relating to trade unions for the time being in force in Singapore;(e)any cooperative society registered as such under any written law;(f)any mutual benefit organisation registered as such under any written law relating to mutual benefit organisations for the time being in force in Singapore;(g)any company, association or partnership, consisting of not more than 20 persons, formed for the sole purpose of carrying on any lawful business that has for its object the acquisition of gain by the company, association or partnership, or the individual members thereof;(h)any class, society or association of foreign insurers carrying on insurance business in Singapore under any foreign insurer scheme established under Part 2A of the Insurance Act 1966; or(i)any school or management committee of a school constituted under any law regulating schools for the time being in force in Singapore.
it is organised wholly outside Singapore; and
does not carry on any activity in Singapore.
Any person who manages or assists in the management of any unlawful society shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both.
Any person who is or acts as a member of an unlawful society, or attends a meeting of an unlawful society, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both.
Every offence under subsection (3) shall be deemed to be a non‑bailable offence and an arrestable case within the meaning of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010.