Section 44 — Disposal of articles, documents, substances, etc.

(1)Any article, substance or document produced, detained or seized under this Act must —

(a)where the article, substance or document is produced in any criminal trial, be dealt with in accordance with section 364(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cap. 68); or

(b)in any other case, be returned to the owner or reported to a Magistrate’s Court.

(2)Where the report of any article, substance or document is made to a Magistrate’s Court under subsection (1)(b), the Magistrate’s Court may order the article, substance or document —

(a)to be forfeited; or

(b)to be disposed of in any manner that the Magistrate’s Court thinks fit.

(3)This section does not affect any right to retain or dispose of property which may exist in law apart from this section.