Singapore legislation

Clause 8

of Stamp Duties (Amendment No. 2) Bill

Clause 8

New section 70AA

The principal Act is amended by inserting, immediately after section 70A, the following section:“Recovery of duty, etc., from persons leaving Singapore70AA.—

(1)

Where the Commissioner is of the opinion that any person is about or likely to leave Singapore without paying all the duty or penalty recoverable from him under any provisions of this Act, the Commissioner may issue a certificate containing particulars of the duty or penalty and a direction to the Commissioner of Police or the Controller of Immigration, or both, that such person be prevented from leaving Singapore without paying the duty or penalty or furnishing security to the satisfaction of the Commissioner for payment thereof.(2) Subject to the provisions of any order issued or made under any law for the time being in force relating to banishment or immigration, the Commissioner of Police or the Controller of Immigration, or both, as the case may be, shall thereupon take, or cause to be taken by any police officer or immigration officer, such measures as may be necessary to prevent the person named in the direction from leaving Singapore until payment of the duty or penalty has been made or secured as aforesaid, including the use of such force as may be necessary and, if appropriate, the detention of any Singapore passport, certificate of identity or travel document and any exit permit or other document authorising such person to leave Singapore.(3) At the time of issue of the certificate, the Commissioner shall issue to such person a notification thereof by personal service or registered post; but the non-receipt thereof shall not invalidate any proceedings under this section.(4) Payment of the duty or penalty to an officer in charge of a police station or to an immigration officer or production of a statement signed by the Commissioner stating that the duty or penalty has been paid or secured as aforesaid shall be sufficient authority for allowing such person to leave Singapore.(5) Any person who, knowing that a direction has been issued under this section for the prevention of his departure from Singapore, voluntarily leaves or attempts to leave Singapore without paying the duty or penalty payable by him or furnishing security to the satisfaction of the Commissioner for payment thereof shall be guilty of an offence and may be arrested, without warrant, by any police officer or immigration officer.(6) No civil or criminal proceedings shall be instituted or maintained against the Commissioner of Police, the Controller of Immigration or any other police officer or immigration officer, in respect of anything lawfully done under the authority of this section.”.