Section 39 — Surrender of guns, etc., by unauthorised persons

(1)A person commits an offence if —

(a)the person —

(i)comes into possession of a gun, a major part of a gun, or a gun accessory, an explosive or explosive precursor, or a weapon or noxious substance but is not authorised by or under this Act to use, store or possess the gun, major part of a gun, gun accessory, explosive, explosive precursor, weapon or noxious substance, as the case may be; or Illustration A person who has possession of the gun because of the death of the individual licensed to possess it, by inheritance or as estate administrator. A person who discovers in the course of excavating his land for building works unearths an undetonated bomb from the time of the Japanese Occupation of Singapore.

(ii)continues in possession of a gun, a major part of a gun, or a gun accessory, an explosive or explosive precursor, or a weapon or noxious substance when the person stops being authorised under this Act to use, store or possess the gun, major part of a gun, gun accessory, explosive, explosive precursor, weapon or noxious substance; and

(b)the person intentionally or negligently fails, without delay, to surrender the gun, major part of a gun, gun accessory, explosive, explosive precursor, weapon or noxious substance (as the case may be) to a police officer or a person designated by the Licensing Officer for the purpose of this section.

(2)A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) shall be liable on conviction —

(a)where the person is an individual —

(i)to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both; but

(ii)where the individual is a repeat offender — to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both; or

(b)where the person is not an individual —

(i)to a fine not exceeding $20,000; but

(ii)where the person is a repeat offender — to a fine not exceeding $40,000.

(3)In this section, a person stops being authorised under this Act to possess or use a gun, a major part of a gun or a gun accessory, an explosive or explosive precursor, or a weapon or noxious substance if any of the following apply:

(a)the person’s licence to possess the gun, major part of a gun, gun accessory, explosive, explosive precursor, weapon or noxious substance (as the case may be) expires or is revoked;

(b)the person’s licence to possess the gun, major part of a gun, gun accessory, explosive, explosive precursor, weapon or noxious substance (as the case may be) is suspended for the time the licence is suspended;

(c)the person’s class licence stops applying to the person.