174. Power of arrest and seizure

The Director‑General, or any public officer, being either a police officer not below the rank of sergeant, an immigration officer within the meaning of the Immigration Act 1959 or a public officer of such department that the Minister is charged with responsibility for, and being generally or specially authorised for that purpose in writing by the Director‑General, may arrest or cause to be arrested any person reasonably believed to be liable to prosecution for an offence under section 140(1), 141(1), 142(1), 143(1), 144(1), 145(1), 146(1) or (1A), 146A(1), 147(1) or (2) or 148(1), (2), (3) or (4) and may seize, and for that purpose use force if necessary, and detain any article, book, document or account which he or she may have reason to believe to relate to such offence.

Where any person is arrested by the Director‑General or any person mentioned in subsection (1), the Director‑General or person making the arrest must comply with sections 68 and 85 of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 as if he or she were a police officer.

Any person who obstructs or hinders the Director‑General or any person mentioned in subsection (1) in the arrest of any such suspected person or in the seizure or detention of any such article, book, document or account shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.