Section 17 — Grounds for refusing to issue certificate

(1)An authority must refuse to issue a certificate for a document under section 16 if any of the following grounds apply:

(a)the document is not a Singapore public document;

(b)there are reasonable grounds for the authority to believe that the document is forged or falsified;

(c)the authority is not competent to issue the certificate;

(d)the person requesting for the certificate fails to provide any prescribed information or any other information required by the authority;

(e)the prescribed fee is not paid;

(f)any prescribed ground.

(2)A competent authority may refuse to issue a certificate for a public document if any of the following grounds apply:

(a)the authority is unable to verify the authenticity of the signature, seal or stamp on the document;

(b)any prescribed ground.