§ 124 — Investigations of complaints and offences

124.—(1) Whenever —(a)

the Minister, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister, the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Manpower, the Commissioner or an inspecting officer (each called in this section a relevant authority) has reasonable grounds for believing that an offence under this Act has been committed, or wishes to inquire into any matter for which provision is made by this Act or any dispute as to such matter or the death of an employee, or any matter connected with hospital and medical facilities, quarters, sanitation, inspections or the keeping of registers and other documents; or

(b)

whenever any person complains to a relevant authority of any breach of any provision of this Act,

the relevant authority may summon any other person who the relevant authority has reason to believe can give information regarding the subject matter of the inquiry or complaint, and the person so summoned is legally bound to attend at the time and place specified in the summons to furnish information or documents, produce any article or give statements, and to answer truthfully all questions which the relevant authority may put to the person so summoned.

(2) Any person who in any way wilfully obstructs the service of or obedience to the summons, and any person summoned who neglects to attend as required in the summons shall be guilty of an offence.

(3) The Commissioner or inspecting officer has the power to report any failure by such person to attend as required by a summons under subsection (2) to a Magistrate, who may thereupon issue a warrant to secure the attendance of that person as required by the summons.

—(1) Whenever —(a)

the Minister, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister, the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Manpower, the Commissioner or an inspecting officer (each called in this section a relevant authority) has reasonable grounds for believing that an offence under this Act has been committed, or wishes to inquire into any matter for which provision is made by this Act or any dispute as to such matter or the death of an employee, or any matter connected with hospital and medical facilities, quarters, sanitation, inspections or the keeping of registers and other documents; or

(b)

whenever any person complains to a relevant authority of any breach of any provision of this Act,

the relevant authority may summon any other person who the relevant authority has reason to believe can give information regarding the subject matter of the inquiry or complaint, and the person so summoned is legally bound to attend at the time and place specified in the summons to furnish information or documents, produce any article or give statements, and to answer truthfully all questions which the relevant authority may put to the person so summoned.

(2) Any person who in any way wilfully obstructs the service of or obedience to the summons, and any person summoned who neglects to attend as required in the summons shall be guilty of an offence.

(3) The Commissioner or inspecting officer has the power to report any failure by such person to attend as required by a summons under subsection (2) to a Magistrate, who may thereupon issue a warrant to secure the attendance of that person as required by the summons.