§ 173R — Offences under this Division

173R.—(1) An advocate and solicitor or legal counsel who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with section 173D(5) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000.(2) A person who, without reasonable excuse, refuses or fails to comply with —(a)

any requirement imposed under section 173E(1), 173G(3), 173L, 173M(5)(b), (c) or (d), 173O(3)(d) or (7) or 173P; or

(b)

any requirement imposed pursuant to a warrant issued under section 173N(1),

shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.

(3) A person who, without reasonable excuse, refuses or fails to comply with —(a)

any requirement of an investigator under section 173I(2)(a); or

(b)

section 173J(2) or 173K,

shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.

(4) A person who —(a)

in purported compliance with a requirement imposed under section 173D(5), 173L, 173M(5)(b), (c) or (d), 173O(3)(d) or (7) or 173P, or pursuant to a warrant issued under section 173N(1); or

(b)

in the course of examination of the person,

provides information or makes a statement that is false or misleading in a material particular shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.

(5) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence under subsection (4) if the defendant proves that the defendant believed on reasonable grounds that the information or statement was true and not misleading.

(6) Any person who, knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that any book, computer, equipment or article relates to a matter that the Authority is investigating or about to investigate under this Division —(a)

conceals, destroys, mutilates or alters that book, computer, equipment or article; or

(b)

if any such book, computer, equipment or article is within the territory of Singapore, takes or sends the book, computer, equipment or article out of Singapore,

shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.

(7) A person who, without reasonable excuse, obstructs or hinders the Authority in the exercise of any power under this Division, or obstructs or hinders a person who is exercising any power under section 173M(1) or (5) or executing a warrant issued under section 173N(1), shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.

(8) Any occupier or person in charge of any premises who fails to provide, to any person who enters those premises under section 173M(1) or under a warrant issued under section 173N(1), all reasonable facilities and assistance for the effective exercise of that person’s powers under section 173M(1) or (5) or under the warrant (as the case may be) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.[Act 12 of 2024 wef 24/01/2025]

—(1) An advocate and solicitor or legal counsel who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with section 173D(5) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000.

(2) A person who, without reasonable excuse, refuses or fails to comply with —(a)

any requirement imposed under section 173E(1), 173G(3), 173L, 173M(5)(b), (c) or (d), 173O(3)(d) or (7) or 173P; or

(b)

any requirement imposed pursuant to a warrant issued under section 173N(1),

shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.

(3) A person who, without reasonable excuse, refuses or fails to comply with —(a)

any requirement of an investigator under section 173I(2)(a); or

(b)

section 173J(2) or 173K,

shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.

(4) A person who —(a)

in purported compliance with a requirement imposed under section 173D(5), 173L, 173M(5)(b), (c) or (d), 173O(3)(d) or (7) or 173P, or pursuant to a warrant issued under section 173N(1); or

(b)

in the course of examination of the person,

provides information or makes a statement that is false or misleading in a material particular shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.

(5) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence under subsection (4) if the defendant proves that the defendant believed on reasonable grounds that the information or statement was true and not misleading.

(6) Any person who, knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that any book, computer, equipment or article relates to a matter that the Authority is investigating or about to investigate under this Division —(a)

conceals, destroys, mutilates or alters that book, computer, equipment or article; or

(b)

if any such book, computer, equipment or article is within the territory of Singapore, takes or sends the book, computer, equipment or article out of Singapore,

shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.

(7) A person who, without reasonable excuse, obstructs or hinders the Authority in the exercise of any power under this Division, or obstructs or hinders a person who is exercising any power under section 173M(1) or (5) or executing a warrant issued under section 173N(1), shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.

(8) Any occupier or person in charge of any premises who fails to provide, to any person who enters those premises under section 173M(1) or under a warrant issued under section 173N(1), all reasonable facilities and assistance for the effective exercise of that person’s powers under section 173M(1) or (5) or under the warrant (as the case may be) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.[Act 12 of 2024 wef 24/01/2025]